Lord Of The Rings On A Laptop Screen
It’s times like this that I love.
The peace and quiet with nothing but the sound of the computer keys “click clacking” and the Lord of the Rings soundtrack in my ear. I am still convinced it is the greatest soundtrack of all time. I can still remember the first time I saw the Fellowship of the Ring. I was in my parent’s bedroom with Jeremiah (the brother right under me) and we laid on our stomachs and took in the glory of the movie on a small, standard definition laptop screen. This didn’t matter. We could have been in the largest theater in the world and our excitement still would not have been any greater. It was unlike anything we had every seen before.
I remember the both of us being blown away by the incredible CGI, the visuals, the music and of course, the swords. Oh man those swords. I still nerd out over those swords. They are amazing. For the next 5 or so years we would pinch and save every dollar in order to buy the sword of Aragorn, Gimli’s ax or the double blades of Legolas the elf. Those were our prize possessions and we would slay many orcs with them in the hills behind our house. I might have cut myself once or twice also.
I can vividly recall the feelings that accompanied seeing those films for the first time. The excitement, the emotions, the desire to learn all about it. I think we must have watched that trilogy every week for a year. I still have a claim to fame with the ability to recite every line of dialogue from all three movies. I watched them that much. It was a whole world to immerse myself in. I loved and still love the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Now that I’m older, those types of experiences are few and far between. I still get excited about things to be sure, but the wonder of a new experience does not come around as often. I hardly get the same feelings I can remember having all those years ago staring into that laptop screen. I want those feelings again. I don’t want to believe they are gone for good. If I’m going to be honest with myself, I want that type of excitement for something a little deeper than a movie franchise. I want that youthful giddiness over something that actually matters. I want to be excited about the Gospel.
I don’t want to just go through life looking at the gospel like it’s part of a spiritual checklist or something. I want to be excited about it. I want to have a desire to read God’s Word, learn about His plan of redemption and immerse myself into His world. I want the joy of my salvation to keep me up at night and fill my thoughts every second. I want to be so overwhelmed with thankfulness for what I have in Christ that I tell everyone around me about it. I want this. I need this.
Now I realize that this whole post has been nothing but a big pile of emotional thoughts and feelings splurged onto a page. I completely understand that feelings are fickle and should not be used as a barometer for spiritual quality or health. However, I do not think our faith should be without emotion. There is great excitement in the truth of the Gospel. It should rock our world and cause us to weep, then sing, then weep again. If you go through this life without any emotional reaction at all to the wonder of your salvation, might I suggest you are thinking about it incorrectly. It’s ok to feel joy and excitement. There is nothing more exciting than the Gospel.
So how do I get to be that little kid watching Lord of the Rings on my parent’s laptop again? How do I rekindle the excitement of my salvation. Well, I think it starts by watching the movie over and over again. Study it. Love it. Immerse yourself in it. Memorize every line inflection and note of music. Become an expert of it. Devote your life to sharing it and telling others how amazing it is. Think about it. Talk about it. Write and sing about it. Then you will be able to say with the Psalmist in chapter 21:1-7
“O LORD, in your strength the king rejoices, and in your salvation how greatly he exults! You have given him his heart's desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. For you meet him with rich blessings; you set a crown of fine gold upon his head. He asked life of you; you gave it to him, length of days forever and ever. His glory is great through your salvation; splendor and majesty you bestow on him. For you make him most blessed forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence. For the king trusts in the LORD, and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.”
The Lord of the Rings is an incredible trilogy. In my opinion, they are the greatest movies ever made. But these movies become like the worst, Christian romcom you have ever seen when compared to the incredible Gospel of Christ. That is something to really get excited about. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to my soundtrack.
