Thread by @CptHollingworth

I don't know who needs to hear this, but...

“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.”

Also apropos...

Last of all Húrin stood alone. Then he cast aside his shield, and wielded an axe two-handed; and it is sung that the axe smoked in the black blood of the troll-guard of Gothmog until it withered, and each time that he slew Húrin cried: 'Aurë entuluva! Day shall come again!'

Now, it must be said that for old mate Húrin... day does not quite ever come again. In fact, the Narn i Chîn Húrin - the Lay of the Children of Húrin - is without a doubt the most tragic of all the tales of the First Age.

But for all of that deep sadness and tragedy...

The sun does rise, the Age does turn, and the author of all of Húrin's woes is overthrown.

So these are our dark times. Our challenge is what we do with them; who do we help, and what do we stand for?

Tolkien's heroes are at their best when things are darkest.

We can be too.

And if you need something look upon tonight, and if you're where I am in Sydney, look low to the horizon after the sun has gone down. South-south-west, and look upon the brightest light in the sky.

Sure, you could say it's Venus...

But you can also say it's Eärendil, with the Silmaril upon his brow, still coursing through the heavens and looking over us.

And that light is the light of the Two Trees; the light of Valinor itself, preserved since before the First Age itself.

There are worse things to believe

And if you need to believe it, you won't be alone.

"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."

It'll do.