High above the city of Minas Tirith, in the mythical kingdom of Gondor, a tower stands. An immense brass container of oil is poured, drenching the carefully stacked wood. A torch is thrown and the enormous Beacon of Minas Tirith is lit. On a nearby mountain, another beacon answers by lighting its own towering bonfire, signaling the watchman on a distant craggy peak to kindle the next fire. This mountain summit blaze signals to another far away peak, towering above the clouds. It, too, answers and throughout the night, fires continue to be lit on snowy peak after snowy peak, until at last, the message is received at the neighboring kingdom: “Gondor calls for aid!” The response resounds, “Then Rohan will answer!”

The images in The Lord of the Rings film are striking, as the camera pans across mountain ranges, following the signal fires as they are lit, one by one. This is one of my favorite scenes of the Lord of the Rings series, perhaps because it evokes spiritual comparisons for me. Who are the tenders of these signal fires in such lonely outposts? What would happen if they were inattentive, asleep, or were to abandon their posts? Does discouragement ever overtake them, wondering if their contribution is too small to matter?

I picture the single mom in Zarephath feeding the prophet Elijah the last of her small provisions, though she had intended to use it as a final meal for herself and her son before certain starvation. I see the first-century widow who gave her tiny mite of an offering in the Jerusalem Temple. I remember Ruth of Moab who scavenged grain left behind by reapers, to provide for her mother-in-law and herself. I even see a North Dakota woman, collecting all of her February spare change in a plastic “WMCLB” cup on her windowsill to send to national Women’s Ministries.

Each woman’s contribution was small, yes, but not insignificant! Because of her sacrificial gift, the Zarephath woman became the recipient of a miracle that enabled her oil and flour to last, feeding three people for the duration of the drought. The Jerusalem widow perhaps never knew that she was praised by Jesus himself, but she has inspired generations, “giving all she had.” Ruth’s hard-working generous spirit impressed a wealthy landowner, who married her, resulting in her inclusion in the lineage of Jesus. The North Dakota woman’s gift joined other cups of coins, mugs of money, and jars of change from New York to California, helping to positively impact women that she will probably never meet.

If you know the story of Gondor, you remember that before help from Rohan could arrive, Gondor was deep in battle. And so are we, as believers in Jesus. Lord of the Rings depicts an epic fictional tale of the struggle of good and evil. We are in the reality of that spiritual struggle: good vs. evil in our world, our communities, and even in our own thoughts and actions. Our world needs aid!

As believers, we’re all posted at signal stations. Ours may be a lonely post, or one overrun by pre-schoolers, or uncooperative co-workers! Yet, God has placed us at our post, asking us to be ready at any time. Ready to tell anyone of the help that is available in Jesus; ready to pray for our pastor’s wife; ready to join a clean-up crew locally or abroad; ready to simply save coins in a “Cup of Blessing;” ready to be set “on fire” for him.

This month, WMCLB calls for aid. Our Focus Project this year is supporting our pastors’ wives. We invite you to care for your own pastor’s wife with monthly practical ideas at www.wmclb.com. Encourage her to accept the invitation to her Regional Pastors’ Wives Retreat to energize and refresh her. Remove obstacles so she can attend by helping with gas money, childcare, and weekend responsibilities. We also need your aid in funding these retreats, as most will occur in February and March.

In our world, it isn’t Gondor who calls for aid – it is the body of Christ, that we are already a part of, who calls for aid. It is our neighbor across the street. We can answer! Those who walked with Jesus trusted – and walked on water. Trusted – and caught so many fish the nets began to break. Trusted him to empower them to complete the mission he gave them: to make disciples wherever they were going.

When Rohan went to aid Gondor, it was the presence of a king and his unexpected resources that won the battle. For us, the King of kings promises his everlasting presence to strengthen and work in us! It is his light which provides the aid the world needs.

Cheryl Olsen is Information Coordinator for Women’s Ministries of the CLB.

By Cheryl Olsen

Cheryl Olsen (pictured with her husband Stan) serves as the secretary of Women's Ministries of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren. (www.wmclb.com)

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