Words of Encouragement from J.R.R. Tolkien

"What Are We Holding On To?

Sam: "It’s all wrong. By rights we shouldn’t even be here. But we are. It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were, and sometimes you didn’t want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad happened?

But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something. Even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand.

I know now. Folks in those stories had lots of chances of turning back only they didn’t. Because they were holding on to something."

Frodo: "What are we holding on to, Sam?"

Sam: "That there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it’s worth fighting for."

Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien

On this my first day here and only my second post, to all those on this platform and around the world fighting the good fight— for a new day, for all the good in the world—thank you.

P.S. We win.

My thanks to Drazen Nesic for the free use of his stunning photo.