“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. “So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
Gandalf, J.R.R. Tolkien, The Shadow of the Past, The Fellowship of the Ring
Re-reading this quote today as I spend some time thinking about the past week and current events in our country. I can’t fix all the problems in our world; I’m not called to, either. I am, however, called to do what I can to do what is right and use my voice and my talents to make the difference that I can. That is freeing, but also sobering thought.
How am I staying intentional in my work, my life, and my relationships? How am I recommitting myself every day to showing up and doing good works? How am I prioritizing my wellness so that I have the energy to show up and do the work in the first place? How am I prioritizing my tasks so that I am working diligently on the right task for the moment?
Being intentional, being “sober minded” as some call it, prioritizing where I can, serving those relationships that are important to me, and giving myself grace to fail…to pick myself up the next day and try again.
This is life. This is the work.