seeds of men ...

... said Gimli. ''It is ever so with the things that Men begin: there is a frost in Spring, or a blight in Summer, and they fail of their promise.''

"Yet seldom do they fail of their seed,'' said Legolas. ''And that will lie in the dust and rot to spring up again in times and places unlooked-for. The deeds of Men will outlast us, Gimli.''

Interesting that man fails sooooo often, yet in our attempts and failings seeds are left behind. Seeds of courage, grace, peace ... etc that will spring up again....

''We cannot achieve victory by arms, but by arms we can give the Ring-bearer his only chance, frail thought it be.''

''Other evils there are that may come; for Sauron is himself but a servant or emissary. Yet it is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succour of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have a clean earth to till. What weather they shall have is not ours to rule.''(Gandalf)

I see this in Iraq. We may never achieve the victory of taking out the Terror, but by arms we can give those who want freedom and peace a chance. In fact it isn't just limited to Iraq ... whatever evil is before us by spiritual warfare, we hold up the arms of Moses and give victory a chance.

I love that I found Tolkein's writings an insight to the darkness in the land.
quotes taken from the chapter "the Last Debate" from ''The Return of the King'' ~ Tolkein

Dearest King of kings,
All rulers must come into Your courts for the accounting of their leadership. As I watch how Saddom sits there with a smug face, my stomach curls. As I see Iraq on the edge of something good or something evil, I hold my breath.

However, I cannot see the undercurrent .. God-Current. I know the history and I know the future. Fear fades. Your Rule is just. I wait on You, expectant of Your Great Things.
~ always strengthen in waiting with eyes on You, your little girl