“Not all those who wander are lost.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
As you may or may not know, I’m a HUGE Lord of the Ring fan. Well, maybe not as massive a fan as my daughter Alyssa, who could probably teach a University level course on Tolkien’s writing and Middle Earth history. She has been known to speak Elvish and when she performed her Irish Dance steps as a child/teen, I could almost see the Elves and Hobbits dancing beside her as her curls bounced to the lilting Celtic music.
When she and her brother Clark, (she on piano and Clark on violin) used to play one of the songs from the movie, “In Dreams,” I used to weep in sadness that we did not live in such a world or a time as is portrayed in Tolkien’s literature. It was a time and place of innocence and magic. I’d like to think I did play a bit part in creating her passion for this literature, since I introduced her to Tolkien when she was around 11 or 12. My mom and I also kept her belief in faeries/elves and the like alive by surrounding her with faerie stories and music.
(If you are unable to see the video below, click on this hyperlink which will take you to the Lord of the Rings soundtrack, “In Dreams.”….for inspiration to journey starts there)
I think of our dear daughter now, over in the U.K. teaching English to the English and I have to smile for she is finally living in a country steeped in history. A country where Tolkien was inspired to write his Middle Earth tales, she is starting her epic journey.
Teaching isn’t the easiest thing to do when one is more comfortable behind the piano, behind a book, behind the camera, sitting in the corner observing.
She pushes her comfort zone each day as she faces things that are hard and difficult. It may be modern times but courage and determination are needed. I think if Gandalf were really alive and well he would say, “Well done, Alyssa! Stay with the quest.”
And when I look at another of our children, Mitchell, who was just home from University for part of his February reading week, my heart goes out to him as he often struggles trying to find his authentic self and the path that he must walk. I try to share mother wisdom with him but all the wisdom in my heart will not help him on his journey. Only he knows the way and it’s my job to trust and let go that he will listen well to his heart and follow where it bids him to travel. I have lived long enough to know that it will turn out right.
In my own life, when my friends and family questioned many of my life choices; to leave a comfortable career, to have more children later in life than society deems prudent; to leave the city and move out to the country, I had to shut out those voices and go inward. I had to find my own path and keep following the signs along the way, encouraging me to stay true to myself. My life is now rich with what I love to do, care for my family, write, garden, and while many would not think this is a worthy life purpose, I know it is the way that I will grow as a soul.
What about you? Do you question your life’s path? It’s really simple to follow the road signs if you recognize the symbols along the way although they aren’t always easy to discern. I remember trying to decide about a certain life choice years ago. The two doors were open wide but I just couldn’t decide which one to walk through. I was praying for guidance daily. Minute to minute uttering the words, “help me with the direction to take,” as my mantra.
Then one day as I was driving our children to their after school activities and of course we were in a hurry as usual, hoping that we wouldn’t be late but of course we got behind a slow moving vehicle. I had to step on the brakes, take a deep breath and when I did, I realized the car in front of me had a bumper sticker in the rear that read, “Trust Comes First.”
As soon as I read those words, I got shivers as if my guardian angel were sitting right beside me whispering the message directly into my ear. I knew what I had to do in that second. I let go of any fear that I had been holding onto and knew which door to walk through. I wanted to follow that car and when the driver finally stopped to say, “Thank you, as you have no idea how much your bumper sticker helped me today.” Do you ever wonder why certain people or things are put on your path at a precise time? There are no coincidences in life. Everything happens for a reason but we aren’t often listening or watching for guidance.
And so, while I continue on my hero’s journey, a part of that is trusting that goodness will always prevail. That my children will be okay and that the messages that Tolkien wrote about in the Lord of the Rings and his other books have reached them. Every Christmas we have a tradition now of watching the movies together, often we are quoting the lines at the same time, they are entrenched in our memory.
(If unable to see the above, check this hyperlink to the Youtube video of Gandalf …”All you need to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”
While there are many lines from the book/movie that are profound, the above has to be my favourite, as it helps me to remember to live fully and never let fear take over.
And before I leave today, I wanted to share my Carrot Cake recipe with you, my dear readers because, well, at the end of a journey, one needs to find nourishment and comfort. Also, carrot cake happens to be one of my daughter Alyssa’s favourite desserts. This recipe was given to me by my sister C, years ago and I have made hundreds of carrot cakes since then. Do we ever really realize how the smallest things we contribute and share can change the world? This simple, easy recipe has created moments for our family to stop on our path, celebrate life, restore ourselves and have the energy to carry on….like lembas bread.
Thank you C for this recipe. I hope it becomes a family fav for you too.
Hope’s Carrot Cake
Ingredients
2 cups flour (1 cup white, 1 cup whole wheat flour)
2 cups sugar (1 cup white, 1 cup brown sugar)
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup rapeseed oil or any light oil of your choice
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp all-spice
4 eggs
3 cups finely grated carrots (I don’t use my food processor…I like grating by hand for this recipe)
Directions
1. Sift dry ingredients
2. Add oil to dry and stir really well…this is a thick mixture
3. Add eggs, one at a time until well combined
4. Add carrots and ensure blended well
5. Pour mixture into a lightly greased pan of your choice. (I use a bundt pan or a 9×13 pan)
Bake for 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes…if using a glass pan….bake at 325 degrees
Cream Cheese frosting
1- 4 ounce package or 1/2 of the large 8 ounce package
3 tsp milk
11/2 tsp sugar
8 tbsp of icing sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla
Blend cheese and milk then slowly add the additional ingredients until smooth
Adjust the amounts depending on whether you want a glaze or a thick icing on your cake
When the cake is cooled, ice with the above and sprinkle walnuts on top….Journey’s End
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| I’m serving the cake on my mother’s “Forget Me Not” china tea set….we all make such a difference in each other’s lives |
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| My beautiful son Mitchell, home for reading week…now back on his path |
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| My darling daughter Alyssa, on her Hero’s journey….this pic from.her day trip to Windsor Castle, Bath and Stonehenge |
The next time you are wondering about your life purpose or whether you are on the right path,, all you have to do is trust that everything will become clear in time, let go…and ENJOY.
YOU are the hero in your own journey!
(If you can’t see the Youtube video above…click here for the video of “Into the West” from Lord of the Rings)
Until we meet again, may you be well, happy and peaceful.
Gandalf and Pippin from the Return of the King….”The Journey Does Not End Here.”
Blessings from Hope