Not All Who Choose to Wander are Lost

I finished watching Rings of Power. IMHO, it doesn't capture the magic or spirit of the Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings (LOTR) movies with one notable exception -- the song "This Wandering Day." It's a beautiful, eloquent song that builds upon on one of the most famous poems from LOTR, the Riddle of Strider: 

All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.

From that poem, perhaps the most popular line is the second one that refers to Aragorn (aka Strider) and his journey to become king. Much has been written about the meaning of this line but it's reasonable to assert that Tolkien was referring to both the literal and figurative wandering that we sometimes encounter. That it's sometimes necessary to lose one's bearings to eventually find oneself -- or at least the next version of ourselves. 

But there's a profound difference between those who choose to wander and those who are forced to do so. It's the difference between a labyrinth and a maze. While wandering both can result in disorientation and confusion, a labyrinth ultimately leads to the center while a maze leaves one dazed with no assurance of reaching a conclusion. 

Even if not explicitly, I think the Rings of Power attempts to raise up the important issue of refugees and those who are forced to wander. The UN High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that there were over 100 million people who were "forcibly displaced worldwide" as of May 2022. Many of them are children.

My family were refugees when I was a child though not in the dire circumstances that many face when they are forcibly displaced. But the experience of being forced to wander does give me a keen sense of thanks and gratitude that my family's circumstances changed. 

As we celebrate with family and friends on Thanksgiving and maybe buy things on Black Friday, it's important to note that Friday is also Native American Heritage Day. Talk about groups of people who were forced to wander. As Giving Tuesday approaches, I hope you'll consider donating to an organization that supports refugees. My own choices include the UNHCR, International Rescue Committee and American Friends Service.

I am very thankful for everyone in my life -- people, dogs, cats -- who have wandered with me when I'm lost in a maze and turn them into labyrinths through their kindness and compassion.