The way of imagination

       In a letter to his son Michael who was serving in the RAF during World War II (1939—1945), J.R.R. Tolkien describes the shaming and disgrace he had experienced for waiting until July 1915 (age 23) before beginning his active service in the Great War (1914—1918).   Tolkien – who had become engaged to Edith in January 1913 (war would break out in August 1914) – wanted to finish his university studies before going to the Front.   He and Edith were married in March 1916; two months later, Second Lieutenant Tolkien was sent to France to fight in the Battle of the Somme.   Tolkien described himself as “a young man with too much imagination and little physical courage”. [1]      In the Summer of 1916, a 27-year-old Adolph Hitler was in one of the trenches opposite the British lines at the Somme (the battle lasted from 1 July to 18 November).   Both Hitler and Tolkien were evacuated from the battlefield within a month of ...

  “Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel; and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.  And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more… Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house .   When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body… He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever . I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me…   Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever .” (2 S...