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Friday, September 5, 2014

This book goes ever on and on!

Our chapter this week (Well, Aug 17th) is called "The Field of Cormallen."  When the Ring is destroyed, the forces of Mordor flee.  The eagles arrive and Gandalf rides them to find Frodo and Sam and rescue them.  Several days later, we find Frodo and Sam asleep in a bed, recovering from their ordeal.

The story seems to be over.  The destruction of the Ring was the climax, after all.  But we have 6 more chapters to go!  How is this?  What is left to talk about?

The "Return of the King" film has been criticized for having too many endings.  The book suffers from this, too - though suffer may not be the right word.  Recall what Faramir said many chapters ago:  "War must be, while we defend our lives against a destroyer who would devour all; but I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory.  I love only that which they defend."  The purpose of the story is not to celebrate victory over Sauron, but instead to celebrate how, now that Sauron is destroyed, life can return to normal.

But in order to appreciate that, we need to see it.  And that can potentially be pretty boring.  But that's because happiness is pretty boring.  Here's a quote, not from our text: "Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the overcompensation for misery.  And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability.  And being content has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt.  Happiness is never grand."  That's why most stories end with "Happily ever after."  Because the story, the interesting part, was the conflict.  Living happily is, for the most part, boring and routine.  So the story ends.

But our text intends to delve pretty deep into "happily ever after."  What does it look like, and in what ways are people happy?  Aragorn will soon become the king.  Gimli and Legolas have promised each other they will do a tour of Middle Earth together.  The Hobbits still have to get back home.  And then there's Gandalf and Eowyn and Eomer and Faramir.  What happens to them?  There's a lot to cover.

"Happily ever after" is a very blanket statement.  Happiness can come in many forms.  But happiness is also, as stated above, kind of boring.  That boredom can affect an otherwise good job or good relationship or good routine.  Howard Stern once said (8:43), "There's nothing more exciting than the announcement... But then you actually have to go out and get it done."  I'm starting two new jobs, and that's very exciting.  But I'm certain in a few months I'll start to feel the drag of employment.  Even this blog fits into that pattern - the first few weeks were a blast, but then I got into a routine, and I still like it but... I have to keep doing it.  And if I don't, but still got a high from the announcement, that's sort of like cheating the system.  That's why we look down on people who get married, but can't stay married, but then get married again, but can't stay married again.  They're hooked on the idea of an exciting wedding day, but they aren't able to follow through.

We can't really live from one high of excitement to the next.  Or, if we need that boost, we shouldn't get it from our real lives.  That's messy.  But that's what video games and sports teams and fantasy teams and movies and books are for.  We as humans don't do great with routine.  As Barry Manilow said, "I'm doing OK, but not very well."  We need more to feel really alive.

In the coming chapters we will see the characters deal with the consequences of victory, and find a place for themselves in the post-Sauron world.  It will sometimes feel like the book is dragging on, but that's how life can feel after a big victory.  And rather than looking for another fight to have, we should try to learn how to embrace the calm and enjoy happiness, stability and contentment.  Even if they aren't very grand.

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