Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Leaf by Niggle by J.R.R. Tolkien

This short story is completely fiction. It is art. It is like The Shack. If you don’t take it too far, it can not only be entertaining, but make you think. But, don’t take the allegory and relate it to truth. It can’t be done. We can’t work our way to heaven, for example. But I do appreciate how what Niggle did on earth affected heaven. There are no verses in the Bible that say that specifically, but the concept is one to ponder. On the one hand, it can be comforting to think that the relentlessness of the mundaneness of my life has some positive eternal meaning that I cannot see right now. But it is frightening to think that I will forever regret in the afterlife that I did not prepare more for it.

I love the transformation from pride to humility. I long to be the way on earth right now that Niggle got to be when he reached “heaven”.

The ending is so “feel-good” and satisfying. I love it. And who can read it without relating to it at least a little bit? Especially for me with the caring for a disabled person. Wow.

3 comments:

  1. I thought of this quote while reading this short story, and just now found it. “The great thing, if one can, is to stop regarding all the unpleasant things as interruptions of one’s ‘own’, or ‘real’ life. The truth is of course that what one calls the interruptions are precisely one’s real life – the life God is sending one day by day: what one calls one’s ‘real life’ is a phantom of one’s own imagination.” C.S. Lewis

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  2. Kyle put that same quote on her FB page yesterday ... so true!
    I know a little bit of what you're feeling my friend, but you must know that your example of loving and caring for Cathryn is a true testimony of God's love for you all, and no amount of public speaking will affect as many people as your consistent life and walk with God - be encouraged dear young lady♥
    Your message that God is GOOD, ALL the time, cannot be disputed by anyone watching you, so continue to live well, and know that it IS worth it all ♫♥

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    1. Thank you, my friend! God bless you! We pray for your family often. :)

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