All That is Gold Does Not Glitter

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.
— J.R.R. Tolkien

These words, spoken by Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, give us pause to reflect on a few things that may appear one way, but on closer examination are something much deeper.

All that is gold does not glitter

Sometimes we judge the quality of something or someone based on how things look. Strider (also known as Aragorn) looked very ordinary when he first appeared in The Fellowship of the Ring, but was in reality a trustworthy and honorable king in disguise. The qualities that count — like resiliency, faithfulness, loyal love — are the true gold.

Not all those who wander are lost

There are times when we need to wander off the well worn path. The path is well worn because every one goes there but it’s not where something new will be discovered. Taking time to wander, even in the wilderness, can result in new insight and the deeper transformation that we seek.

The old that is strong does not wither

Heat can wreck havoc on thin branches and young trees. For well established trees, heat does not wreck them because they held their ground and grew stronger during drought and storm. People of character lean into their hardship and grow resiliency muscles that serve them well in times of intense heat.

Deep roots are not reached by the frost

Deep roots are formed during times of drought and wind. You see it on the prairies but not so much in the rain forest where water is plentiful and trees are protected. When winter comes, trees with shallow roots can be permanently hurt by the frost. In life, the deeper the roots, the better equipped you are for those frosty experiences of life.

Final question

What can you do this week to grow your resiliency muscles so you are ready for the storms of life?

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