Wednesday, January 28, 2009

The Emptiness of Sin

“All the ‘great secrets’ under the mountains had turned out to be just empty night: there was nothing more to find out, nothing worth doing, only nasty furtive eating and resentful remembering. He was altogether wretched. He hated the dark, and he hated light more: he hated everything, and the Ring most of all.”
(The Fellowship of the Ring, chapter 2)

This description of Gollum’s condition is a compelling description of the emptiness of sin. Doesn’t this resonate, in a terrible way, in your own soul? This is a helpful picture for me to keep in my mind to fight temptation.

1 comment:

Shep Shepherd said...

I think the imagery of the ring is a terrific analogy of sin. The sinner hates the sin - and yet he cannot let go of it. He hates it and he loves it. I think this is what makes the ring's corrupting power so chilling for the reader - we feel as if we have experienced it before.