GOLLUM
AKA: Trahald (birth name), Smeagol, Her Sneak, Slinker, Stinker
History:
Smeagol was once a young boy of hobbit-like folk living near the great river Anduin long ago. Upon one fishing journey on the Anduin his cousin Deagol spotted something on the bottom of the river. Pulling it out Deagol found it to be a beautiful gold band, and when Smeagol's eyes set upon it, he had to have it.
So it was that upon that bank Smeagol strangled Deagol for the ring, and when he laid it upon his finger, all the reasons why he did so became apparent. For it was the One Ring wrought by the dark lord Sauron ages ago, and within its small golden circlet resided power far beyond the reckoning of mortals. So excited was the ring for being discovered and killed over, that it overwhelmed Smeagol the moment he slipped it on.
The ring would twist Smeagol into a wretched creature bent upon the worship of the ring as his own precious. Those that saw this wretched transformation in Smeagol began calling him Gollum for the gulping sound he made since under the influence of the Ring. Gollum would eventually retreat to the Misty Mountains and find a cave to hide from the sun, now shunned by him, and to be alone with his precious. The Ring did not like being hid away from it's true master Sauron, and given any opportunity of being found by someone other than the covetous Gollum was the little Rings silent goal.
That opportunity game when Bilbo fell into Gollum's lair when the Dwarf company was crossing the Misty Mountains on their way east. Bilbo found the One Ring sitting on upon the ground of Gollum's cave and when he discovered that by putting it on it made himself invisible he secretly waited for Gollum to show him the way out. To Gollum's complete and utter dismay he had lost his precious, and now a hobbit had his Ring. Gollum would race across Middle-earth in search of his precious Ring, and he finally caught up with the Fellowship near Lorien.
When he finally caught up with Sam and Frodo on their way towards Mordor to destroy the Ring, Frodo bade Sam not to kill him as per Gandalf's council. And so Gollum acted as their guide into Mordor, but he had his own plan and eventually sprung his trap. But they would struggle past his horrible trap and Gollum would continue tracking Frodo and Sam all the way to the edge of the Crack of Doom where the One Ring was wrought by Sauron.
Here in a frenzy he leapt upon Frodo, who had succumbed to the power of the Ring and slipped it on, but Gollum's sharp teeth bit the finger from Frodo's hand and leaping with glee after finally touching his ring after so long, he slipped and fell into the Crack of Doom. This brought about the end of the dark lord Sauron, as nearly all his power and structures were built with the power of the One Ring."
=-----------=0=----------=
This story is loaded. We may very well become what we worship, and evil can look pretty tempting and sound very good, but at the heart, it is still evil.
I cry for all those who are being abused by immature and self-seeking leaders that aren opening themselves to the enemy through a quest for position in this new era of the contemporary Church. I'm sure many of them will wake up one day and see the error of their way, and repent from it. I cannot see why God would let all this come to the surface if not to deal with it for good.
The "professional leaders" breed could be in its final hour. Let them bring their heads up high enough for the sickle to harvest them at once. We might see the fear of the Lord grip hearts like never before in our lifetimes.
May we all be sobered in these times by the increasing certitude that many leaders, secular and religious, are puppets to their own lusts. Unguarded inner breaches make for entry points to the enemy, that roaring crowds can silence for a while, but not totally. To leaders who are carelessley making plans to "increase their ministries", consider Ananias and Saphira.
Taking our cues from man instead of God leaves us dangerously exposed. Character flaws left unchecked weaken one's ability and willingness to obey God, and can turn a once gentle person into a raving grabbing manipulative achiever.
Why is it so hard to get through to leaders with warnings and exhortations, unless they pat us on the head and praise our "growth", walking away untouched... There is a Gollum in all of us. But there is also Christ in us, the hope of glory.
We need to talk... for when our brothers and sisters become our employees, servants of men and women's visions, there is little that will distinguish us from this world, which will want nothing to do with us. And God's judgement will be, He says so Himself.
Leaders, while there is light, let's talk with the sheep. Don't be afraid. Give a voice to those who hear yours constantly. You will learn something.
Blessings,
Andre
No comments:
Post a Comment