The Original Aragorn

The Aragorn of the Jackson LOTR trilogy is a man who needs to come to terms with his destiny, accept it, and then seek it with determination. It's as if Jackson's script-writing friends felt like Aragorn needed to be a developing character to make the story more interesting; he needed to get in touch with his real self, like a good modern. One also cannot help but wonder what kind of "love" he has for Arwen, if he can't be man enough to earn the right to marry her. She has to exhort him to his duty to her.

In the books, Tolkien depicts a man who has long known what he is about and is always about the business of fulfilling his destiny. He sees the good that will come to Middle Earth with the fulfillment of his calling and he longs for it; he also loves his bride and is willing to undergo what ever he must to have her.

This contrast reminds me of the contrast between two views of Jesus. One is the self-discovering view. Jesus gradually faces who he is and what he has to do and, almost accidentally, winds up founding his new religion. The other view portrays a man who knew he was to be about his Father's business from the start. His life was one long pursuit to win his kingdom and his bride. He did not come into the world to sulk but to fight through to victory.

And he's still at it. The marriage is yet to come! The King has yet to return. Whatever we may be thinking about today, he's thinking about the victory and the love that he is determined to make his own at all costs. He calls us to the Kingdom. He call us to the wedding he longs for. Will we fight with him? Will we love him?