Gandalf and the Holy Spirit's Silence

 When the Spirit is Silent

My husband has embarked upon the wonderful adventure of listening to Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings in audiobook form, narrated by Andy Serkis. He has always loved the movies (which are played nigh-constantly in his family's house), but his listening experience has been just about as fun for me as it has been for him. One of our most in-depth conversations about the story focused on The Fellowship of the Ring. While The Two Towers is his favorite movie, he found that there was so much depth to the first novel that wasn't depicted in Peter Jackson's film, and that depth led to some fascinating insights about Gandalf's role in the fellowship and, in my interpretation, tie-ins with the spiritual life.

Tolkien's work is one of the finest adventure stories of all time, and I'll start with examining the parts relevant to this discussion. In the mines of Moria (one of my husband's favorite scenes in the audiobooks to date), Gandalf falls during his battle with the Balrog and is lost to the fellowship. The remaining members of the group make their way to Lothlorien, one of the realms of the elves, and recuperate there. After some time there - and some interesting interactions with the ruling lady, Galadriel - the fellowship continues on its way down the river. At some point, the members of the group will have to decide where they are going to go - to give succor to Gondor, with Boromir, or towards Mordor and Mount Doom, to destroy the Ring as soon as possible. This is the basic frame of the story after Moria, up to a point.

Now, I'll take a look at what was going on within the company. My husband noticed that once Gandalf is gone, it's almost as if the fellowship has lost its guiding compass. Gandalf, always the summoner to adventure and mentor figure and marshaler of men, leaves the fellowship devoid of his guiding presence. As my husband put it, the fellowship was happy to follow Gandalf's lead, much like a child trusts that everything will turn out well, as long as his parents are with him. But, once that dynamic problem solver - the biggest adult in the room, as it were - is gone, the decision making falls primarily on the next "most mature" person in the group, which, in this case, is Aragorn. 

Aragorn, however, seems not too keen to take complete control of the reins, and this dynamic is lost in the translation of the novel into movie format. He has some ideas about how the members of the fellowship should divide, posing the idea that he travel with Frodo and the Ring, Samwise, and Gimli towards Mordor, and the others should perhaps accompany Boromir on his homeward journey to Gondor. However, even with this idea, he is loth to make the decision himself and defers to Frodo. Frodo asks for some time to consider the options, and this is the point at which the train jumps the tracks and everything spirals out of control.

One of the reasons things go awry is that Boromir tries to take the Ring from Frodo. With his analysis, I'm going to start bringing in some of the more spiritual tie-ins.

Boromir is an interesting character regarding decision-making and virtue. As regards the making of decisions, the reader knows from the outset that Boromir plans to accompany the fellowship as long as it's heading in the direction of his homeland, and he intends to part ways once the group's path lies in a different direction. He argues that the Ring should go to Gondor, but accepts that his path will split at some point from others. There is some tension present regarding Boromir and his ideas about what should happen to the Ring, but there is no question there of doing other than what Gandalf deems best. But, this is the situation before Gandalf's loss.

Once Gandalf - our proverbial decision-making parent - is out of the picture, it seems that alternatives suggest themselves more strongly to Boromir. Even Lady Galadriel picks up on this when the fellowship presents itself in Lothlorien. What had once been a distant possibility - the taking of the Ring to Gondor before Mordor - was suddenly an option that was back on the table. Yet, it was not an option that anyone in the fellowship seriously considered. Aragorn mulled over splitting the fellowship, and Frodo knew the Ring had to continue to Mordor and its destruction. So, once Boromir determined that the Ring's journey to Gondor was a real possibility, he had to figure out how to make that possibility happen.

As said previously, the change in Boromir from contented fellow-adventurer to ambitious strategist seems to take place after the group loses Gandalf. Think of him, in a way, as a high schooler - one who is content to live by his parents' rules so long as he lives in his parents' house, but who goes off to college and lives by a different set of values once he's on his own. The change wasn't that he was suddenly a different person altogether - the change came from the sudden falling away of a structure that gave something its form. Once the structure was gone, the inner substance wasn't hard enough to retain the shape and stand on its own.

But the structure fell away for everyone in the fellowship, not just Boromir. Gandalf wasn't watching over or guiding any of them anymore, so why was Boromir the only one who "went bad"? I think the answer lies in virtue and discernment, and the difference can best be seen in a comparison with Aragorn.

Aragorn hesitated to push Frodo to take the Ring in a specific direction. He knew what he thought would be the best course of action, but without Gandalf there, he wasn't confident to decide for the company. Aragorn did recognize that his loyalty lay most with Frodo's mission, but he didn't feel he had the knowledge or wisdom to make a decision regarding what path that mission would take. He spends a long time reflecting upon the options, but ultimately, he hands the decision over to the person who has the most responsibility for the fate of the Ring. Aragorn discerned as well as he could in the circumstances, but in the end, lacking clear insight, he submitted the right to decide to another. He could yield this power to someone else, showing both humility and a determination to be obedient

In contrast, Boromir desired the power of the Ring and sought to force Frodo's decision into the path he wanted to take. Rather than giving up power, he attempts to exert his will upon a weaker person. In this, he exhibits pride in the conviction that his way is the best way. He seemingly spent time listening to the voice that tempted him to take the Ring, if necessary; but he didn't appear to consider whether there might be a better path for him or for the Ring. There was no need to consider voices so long as the voice of Gandalf was the one directing the fellowship. Gandalf's voice was one of power, which accomplished much and was a source of strength. But in the vacuum left by Gandalf's loss, Boromir didn't have the virtue necessary to consider that some alternative might be better than the one suggested by his desires.

And what of Gandalf? Why was so much confusion visited upon the fellowship once he dropped out of the story? In Gandalf, I see something of an allegory for the voice of the Holy Spirit. It is easy to follow God's lead when His makes the plan obvious. Similarly, it was easy to travel in the fellowship when Gandalf took the lead. No one really knew what his plan was - which was why Aragorn's discernment was so difficult - but they were confident that he had a plan and would lead them where they needed to go. But, any Christian can tell you that, sometimes, the Holy Spirit doesn't seem to speak - at least, if He does, it seems to be something we don't catch. So how is Aragorn to decide where the Ring is to go if Gandalf doesn't divulge his plans before disappearing? How is one to make a decision when it's not clear what God desires? 

This is something that Fr. Jacques Philippe discusses in his beautiful work, Searching for and Maintaining Peace. After considering that decisions must not be made with too much haste, or with the help of a spiritual director, he continues on to say that, even with all the right steps, a clear direction isn't always forthcoming. "Sometimes, He [God] simply leaves us free and sometimes, for reasons of His own, He does not manifest Himself" (72). He goes on to say that in these situations, "Frequently, the will of the Lord is that we do decide for ourselves, even if we are not absolutely sure that this decision would be the best." (74).

With this in mind, it seems that both Aragorn and Boromir failed in the realm of discernment. Aragorn could not reach a decision on his own, or even when open to guidance, but Boromir did decide alone - and tried to force events to match his ideas. However, Aragorn did better in the end. He couldn't decide for the group, but for himself, he submitted his own personal desires to the authority of the Ringbearer. Aragorn could not be the ultimate authority for the group, but he recognized his role was to accompany Frodo.

And yet, even this decision of Aragorn's was turned to naught. Events occur which rendered moot his determination to abide by Frodo's choice. He was presented with another situation to discern - should he follow Frodo and Sam, or the captured Merry and Pippin? In this case, his duty was clear - to help those who were immediately in need of help, the captured Hobbits. Here, Aragorn made up his mind speedily, but not in haste. The voice of Gandalf was absent, but the needs of his fellow travelers made clear what was required of him. The Holy Spirit may speak in different ways, and in this story, the experience was true for Aragorn. Even though Gandalf was still gone, Aragorn could see what he needed to do.

Think back to Fr. Philippe - "Frequently, the will of the Lord is that we do decide for ourselves..." Aragorn did make that decision for himself, and notice how things suddenly changed at that point. All his uncertainty vanished once he chose a course of action and committed himself to it. He had purpose, and the purpose gave fruit to action. That action carried him and his companions across lands and into encounters with people who would change the outcome of the war with Sauron. And, eventually, his choice led him back into contact with Gandalf. Aragorn would not have found Gandalf again had he sat at the crossroads and forever pondered whether he should follow Frodo and Sam or the captured Hobbits. No, it was fulfilling the duty that presented itself that brought him back to sensible relationship with Gandalf. 

And this, I think, is what we all hope for when we feel like God isn't making the path clear to us. We pray that, if we try to follow his statutes with goodwill and fulfill our duties in life, then, in His good timing, we shall eventually understand the plan that shapes this particular aspect of our lives. Or, if that is not how God manifests Himself, then we hope that we may someday - perhaps in Heaven - look back and see that, indeed, God's providence had been bringing us to Him all along.

March Book Bracket 2024

 March 2024 Bracket

We're very grateful to be in our new place...and working on getting back to leisure time for reading and listening to audiobooks! It looks like I missed one book in my February lineup, so it's listed first here.

Lost in Thought, by Zena Hitz** (February)

A college professor and Catholic convert considers the intellectual life in what it ought to be as well as where it can fail individuals who approach it with the wrong perspective.

Why I picked it up: It was on my list of books to read after it was quoted in With All Her Mind, a book that has had some far-reaching effects on me since I read it last spring. It was available for free through my Audible subscription.

My impressions: This book was good, but heady enough that it really would be best to read a physical copy. Why, oh why does Audible pick the books that work the worst as audiobooks to make available for free for subscribers? All that aside, I remember the last chapter or so being the most impactful, as it calls out issues with academia today - issues that I see all to easily myself. I appreciate that Hitz addressed the pitfalls of approaching intellectual development as a means to an end, which is certainly an issue for pretty much any college-goer today. I think some of my favorite parts of this book were her excerpts from a work that studied the intellectual life of the working English class, circa the Industrial Revolution. These excerpts were great reminders that one can pursue an intellectual life in spite of less-than-inspiring or intellectual work. Hitz seems to advocate a very sincere search for truth, but claims Catholic institutions (she's a Catholic convert) are also subject to some of the same problems as secular ones (it's been a minute, I can't exactly remember which ones). I'd be curious about what her practical solutions are to some of those problems. Overall, I think it'd be a good book for those who are part of higher learning institutions to read, especially liberal arts colleges.

Understood Betsy, by Dorothy Canfield Fisher**

A girl in the care of overcautious relations learns a new way of living and with her "backwoods" relatives, who teach her different ways of learning and doing.

Why I picked it up: A galpal recommended this one to me a while back. I found out it was different from the Betsy-Tacy series, which I wasn't nearly as interested in, and that it was an audiobook in the public domain.

My impressions: The book had a little bit of a slow start for me, and yet, in spite of that and the lack of clear plot (it's about a girl's moral and mental development with a different set of family), I really enjoyed the book. I loved the depiction of the helicopter-parent-type Aunt Frances, as well as the effects her too-solicitous manner had on Betsy. Some of Betsy's adventures with the Putneys on the Vermont farm had a little feel of Little Women or The Little House on the Prairie series. The ending was extremely satisfying, with Fisher beautifully depicting the difficulties of communicating in a metaphor in the last chapter. This story stirred up in me a love for and wonder of simple things, such as kittens and doing productive work, like making butter. I'd recommend this book to any girl, particularly those who enjoyed the works I mentioned earlier.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, by Barbara Robinson**

Beth, the daughter of the interim Christmas pageant director, reflects on the experience of having the six Herdman siblings - the bad kids in town - take over the major roles of the church's annual Christmas pageant.

Why I picked it up: I'd heard some of the Read-Aloud Revival folks talk about this work and how enjoyable it was, so I decided to give it a try - even though it was February.

My impressions: There's a mix of feelings left over after finishing a listen to this work. The author did a wonderful job of painting a picture of just how bad the Herdman kids were, and making it extremely funny. At the same time, it was unusual to have a book where so much attention was devoted to just how bad some characters were. I noticed one mention of the kids being accused of only ever talking about sex, and the irreverent use of the Lord's name in vain multiple times, which was meant to be funny. So, there were some definite knocks against blithely reading this book out loud to any and all children - at least, not without some editing and/or discussion. However, there were really wonderful moments in the story, too. Beth's friend, who got intimidated out of her usual role as Mary, shows some very un-Mary-like judgment, depicting a fault that I find all too easily in myself. Robinson really considers what the Christmas story might sound like to people who have never heard the Nativity narrative before - and it brings home the strangeness of God becoming man and being born in extreme poverty, in a rather Chestertonian manner. It hit all the right notes for what a Christmas tale should be - which is making the tale of Jesus' birth fresh and new and meaningful to ears which have heard it for years and years, and therefore, lost the wonder for God's great love for mankind. So, while I can't say I'd necessarily recommend the book because of its questionable content, there is, at the same time, something to be gained and enjoyed by those readers who choose to pick it up. It's very much a mixed bag.

The Lances of Lynwood, by Charlotte Mary Yonge**

The page Eustace is knighted after showing valor and courtesy taking a prisoner in battle, but finds himself the victim of slander and intrigue as he tries to act as rightful guardian to his nephew.

Why I picked it up: I needed another book to listen to while continuing to put the house in order, and this one (in the public domain) has been on my to-read list for a long time.

My impressions: When the book first started, I admit that it didn't seem as engaging as I recalled The Young Duke (also by Yonge) had been. However, by the end, I was invested in the outcome and pleased with the ending. This is a great historical fiction book for young readers - like G. A. Henty, but I enjoyed the prose better. The characters were rather static, but that did not prevent the tale from being enjoyable. The background research that must have been conducted helps immerse the reader in the worldview as it was then - with a special emphasis on chivalry. Some of the characters are superstitious and one healer woman is accused of witchcraft merely due to language differences, not looking pretty, and the hallucinations of the one in her care...her efforts to help him are rewarded with the burning of her hovel, although she seems to escape other harm. The focus of the tale is certainly on the nobility, the class where the rules of courtesy have the most hold. I enjoyed the tale, and I think others would, too - especially those readers who enjoyed Men of Iron and the medieval tales of Allen French.

By What Authority? An Evangelical Discovers Catholic Tradition, by Mark Shea**

In order to defend the faith against proponents of the "Jesus seminar" (a group that promotes a very secular view of Jesus), an Evangelical dove deeply into how the Bible canon was established - and discovered that the authority of the Bible lies with the Catholic Church.

Why I picked it up: This audiobook was available for free on the Formed app. Within the last year, a galpal had blogged about reading it, so the title was more familiar when I was scrolling through Formed's offerings.

My impressions: This is a unique work - part apologetics, part personal witness, and just a little hint of conversion story, with some good humor and approachable imagery mixed in. I will admit that there were some parts that were a little harder to follow along with - whether from of the shortcomings of audiobooks for certain more involved works, or from fatigue of following a very thorough examination at times, I'm not sure. That doesn't mean this is a heady, formally academic book - it's well-researched, but overall, nicely readable (listenable??). I learned a lot about how secularism can try to undermine the Gospel, as well as about the role of "tradition" in the Catholic faith. Shea did some great research here, and his knowledge of the Bible shines and makes me want to fall more in love with the Bible myself. I think this would be a great work for high schoolers and older to read, whether they're interested in the Bible or apologetics.

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library, by Chris Grabenstein**

A group of kids win a lock-in in a brand new library funded by the local bizarre game-making tycoon, and discover that a grand prize is on the line for the first person who finds their way out.

Why I picked it up: My cousin said he'd enjoyed the book, and as someone who enjoys children's books, I figured it would be fun to try. I forgot I'd placed it on hold through the library, so I was surprised to have it pop up when I recently opened up the library's online content app.

My impressions: Imagine an escape room, but the room you're locked in is a beyond-state-of-the-art library and the gamemaster is a super silly grown-up. Add some likeable characters (and maybe one or two not-so-likeable ones) and an underlying, right-there-in-the-open message about the wonders of a library, and you've got this book. This book was pretty good, and I can easily see lots of youthful readers enjoying this book. I'd say it's more fun than The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, one of the many works referenced in this book, and though it's a little light on the character development, it was a good romp and had a satisfying ending.

Tales from the Perilous Realm, by J. R. R. Tolkien

This book is a collection of fantasy short stories and poems by Tolkien, and includes his famous essay "On Fairy Stories" as an appendix.

Why I picked it up: I want to reread more books, and this was the one that struck my fancy for that purpose.

My impressions: Some stories and poems are better than others, with the first third of "Roverandom" being very slow, but the story finishing better. "Farmer Giles of Ham" was whimsical and delightful, as ever; "Smith of Wooton Major" was not as enjoyable this time around as I remembered it being, but still good. I can't say I loved the collection of poems either time reading through, but "Leaf by Niggle" hit home in the lovely way that it has. It is a little uncomfortable in parts - the parts where I feel called out - but it is also poignant and beautiful. It is the call-out that Lewis' The Great Divorce is, as well as Bishop Barron's identification of beauty as a very important means for evangelization. It is a reflection on mortality, the gifts we are given, the works of mercy, and helps inspire a longing for Heaven - at least, it did for me. This is a great book for fans of LOTR, but some of these stories would be good for any reader, I think.

Awaking Wonder, by Sally Clarkson**

The homeschooling mother of four talented, creative children gives a description of her family's education model, values, and some encouragement for those who educate children, to boot.

Why I picked it up: I'm trying to make use of the books I can listen to for free through the Audible subscription I have, which I'll probably end soon; this book sounded interesting to me, since I'd heard about the Clarksons through podcasts and read a book by one.

My impressions: I think this books is great for laying out the "whys" behind homeschooling, with the emphasis being on the desire to awaken a sense of wonder, which can lead to a dedication to lifelong learning. It reminded me of grad school, and the discussion of trying to make us "critical thinkers," as opposed to...well, uncritical thinkers, who just accept what we're given in class. I appreciate that Clarkson stated that, even if one doesn't homeschool their kids, her ideas can be adapted to other educational models. While I'm pretty confident that she's right, this book definitely approaches education with a homeschool model in mind. I love the sound of what can be achieved - who doesn't love the idea of an education that is personalized to each and every child, instead of teaching to a quasi-arbitrary standard? However, as someone who is not likely to be able to pursue the homeschooling route, it's a bit difficult to imagine how these ideals can be enacted with children attending the average public/private school. Come to think of it, I've encountered multiple advocates for homeschooling in recent years. These entities seek to encourage homeschooling parents and praise homemakers for all the beautiful work they do, assuring them that it's worth it - and it absolutely is. No argument there. But where are the podcasts and books encouraging parents in dual-income households who desire to impart beauty and foster wonder in their children? Maybe I'll have to become that resource. Someday. Maybe not. Tangent done. This book would be great for homeschooling parents, those parents considering homeschooling, and those needing to reconnect with their ideals for why they desire to raise their children in a way that isn't considered normal today.

A Heart on Fire: Rediscovering Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, by Fr. James Kubicki, S.J.

This priest explains and explores the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, considering its history and more contemporary documents and addresses.

Why I picked it up: This was one of many books recommended or listed as resources in The Heart of Perfection, one of the best books I read last year. I wanted to learn more about this devotion - I've heard about it for forever, but I thought it would be worth exploring more deeply.

My impressions: This book is a great introduction and explanation of the Sacred Heart devotion. I learned a lot, including that the devotion - although outlined explicitly in the second millennium (1600s maybe?), one could argue it has roots all the way back in the early Church. Especially helpful were explanations of the promises associated with the devotion (the promises aren't meant to indicate devotees automatically get to Heaven - they actually denote that there will be certain fruits that naturally come to bear in the lives of faithful devotees) and the explanation of why the Morning Offering is such a beautiful and important prayer. This book has me more intentionally thinking about what may or may not be pleasing to Jesus, saying the Morning Offering prayer with more intention and regularity, and discussing with my husband about the possibility of devoting our family to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, maybe in the summer. I think any high school or adult Catholic would benefit from reading this work, particularly those learning about the devotion, or those who, like me, have heard of this devotion all their lives, but couldn't really explain its elements or why it's important.

Bracket Play

This month's bracket was hard to complete because, while the books sometimes shared similarities, they were, at heart, all vastly different from each other. However, I knew who the winner would be from the start.

I began by relegating Lost in Thought, February's forgotten read, to its own little island where it wouldn't compete. Poor lost little work. It was alright, but I felt it was a book that is best enjoyed in a physical format.

Then, I began the work of whittling down the competitors. Tolkien's short stories definitely won out over the questionable-content-laced work The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. That second book did pack a punch and leave me pondering, but Tolkien's works - the ever-delightful "Farmer Giles of Ham" and the heartache-inducing-in-the-best-way "Leaf by Niggle" amongst them - left it far behind. And it's something I feel I could recommend to a wider audience. I opted for Sally Clarkson's work on educating children and instilling wonder over Yonge's historical fiction mainly because Clarkson's work had me mulling over things more. However, with such disparate works, it's hard to judge. Kubicki's book - the only physical book I read this month - won over Mark Shea's apologetics-personal witness work, and Understood Betsy beat out the more modern children's work by Grabenstein - although that was a good one, too. After the first round things got easier as far as figuring out the bracket goes. Tolkien beat Clarkson, and the religious work Heart on Fire beat Understood Betsy. In fact, Kubicki's book went on to win it all. His work had me thinking, praying differently, and making resolutions. It was definitely worthy of winning a month packed with books.

Books Put Down

A Severe Mercy, by Sheldon Vanauken

A man relates the nature of his hyper-close relationship to his wife, Davy, their befriending of C. S. Lewis, their conversion to Christianity, and his loss of her to illness.

Why I picked it up: It had been on my list for a while, I'd picked it up cheap, and it was the first book my Well-Read Moms group was discussing.

Why I put it down: Well, I could tell it was going to be sad, and about halfway through, it wasn't as enjoyable or as peaceful an experience as I would have liked. I also had other books I wanted to read, namely one I had in mind for Holy Week. So, I can see myself trying it again someday, but I would probably skim through the rest, if I'm being entirely honest.