Look to where the Lord has you and who the Lord has around you, make strides to get to know others more than just on the surface, ask more questions about them than talking about yourself, and find ways to be the Sam to them.

We all need some help from time-to-time. We need a champion to spur us along, someone to shoulder burdens, someone to encourage us to put one foot in front of the other.

Nerd alert: I’m about to reference Lord of the Rings. You’ve been warned.

I’m in the last 100 pages of Return of the King for the “whatever’th” time to read this series. And…it doesn’t get much better than Samwise Gamgee. He’s hilarious, he’s quotable, he’s solid. Sam is a friend we all wish we could be to others and wish we all had.

I won’t give away any spoilers – though if you don’t know the story of LOTR, then shame on you – but as Sam and Frodo walk through Mordor in their attempt to complete the mission given to Frodo, Frodo finds himself extremely burdened and worn down. The One Ring continues to weigh heavier and heavier on Frodo and he’s reaching the point where his strength is zapped and his hope waning.

At one point after a relatively short rest, Sam tells Frodo it is time to keep moving. Frodo responds with the following, “’All right, Sam,’ said Frodo. ‘Lead me! As long as you’ve got any hope left. Mine is gone. But I can’t dash, Sam, I’ll just plod along after you.’”

When I read those words from Frodo, I was taken back to seasons in my life when I was worn down, crushed, and in despair. The weight of the season I found myself in was grave. Like Frodo, I didn’t have any hope left. Like Frodo, I couldn’t muster the strength to find my way or move forward.

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