Books that I have read again and again, other than the Bible, are few and far between. Among them, though, are Tolkien’s masterpieces including The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
As my family and I prepare for a long road trip, my thoughts turn to a poem about traveling that is mentioned in Tolkien’s writings. There are multiple versions of The Road Goes Ever On and On but here’s the particular one I have in mind:
The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.
Up until the last few days, it was doubtful that we would be able to take this trip due to several problems, especially health-related ones. My fervent hope is that it will all go smoothly and that this trip will help to restore a measure of peace and comfort to all of us.
It is only because of the generosity of a family member that we are able to go at all. I look forward to time spent in nature, far removed from the hustle and bustle of regular life, with time to simply enjoy God’s creation.
Frankly, I will also be glad to leave the house for an extended period for the first time in months. We are going somewhere remote so there is not the usual worry about social distancing, etc.
The OW Factor 