queer-as-used-by-tolkien

[queer-as-used-by-tolkien]

FRIEND ✨😊✨

hi friend! How are you!!

[queer-as-used-by-tolkien]

I know the respective fandoms of DC and Miraculous Ladybug have a certain disdain for MLxDC fics but I think there's a potential for fics where Luka leaves Paris and just keeps traveling to different US cities because he keeps figuring out secret identities and he's just this 15 year old kid growing increasingly frustrated and exasperated at how badly everyone hides their identities and he just has to pretend to be oblivious even tho it's Their Fault for being Bad At Secrets and shouldn't adults be better at this??????

#No this is hilarious actually #Poor Luka #miraculous ladybug #luka couffaine

[queer-as-used-by-tolkien]

You know what, Denethor?! Lay off Faramir! He’s twice the man you’ll ever be! No one loves his country or his people more, no one serves them more diligently! You’d do well to emulate him!

[queer-as-used-by-tolkien]

idk, I think God's a pretty big artist...

But you're right, he definitely has the small-artist vibe in his work.

...he also has a small-artist level of appreciation for every single person who expresses appreciation for his art.

the smallest artist i listen to? probably the bird outside my window

[queer-as-used-by-tolkien]

the smallest artist i listen to? probably the bird outside my window

[queer-as-used-by-tolkien]

The free-will choice to say "no" is the pinnacle of what it means to grow. If you weren't allowed to say no, did you ever really fully say yes? If you never really fully said yes, can you actually grow?

I was talking with my dad recently & we got on the topic of People Thinking They Can't Do Things, and like, he is at his core a well-intentioned person who genuinely wants the best for others, but he has definitely internalized some harmful ideas a la "anyone can do anything, the only thing stopping them is their own attitude". so I was like. I see where you're coming from, but let me tell you a story.

last year, I worked with 10 year olds- many of whom had never really spent time outdoors- in an outdoor education program where they came to spend a whole week doing shit outside in nature. the top two scariest experiences for these kids were 1) very tall metal tower, and 2) walking outside at night in the dark with no flashlights.

I tried a lot of different things to persuade them all to join me for each experience: I presented it with enthusiasm and passion, I did physical demonstrations and scientific explanations to help them understands how safe it was, I voiced my absolute commitment to their safety, I invited them to brainstorm ways to help each other and themselves feel safe, etc.

generally I always had at least 2-3 kids out of about 10 who opted out, or if they did join me, would spend the entire experience crying and freaking out. when it was over, they would conclude that even though they did not die- or even get hurt- it was so scary that it wasn't worth it and they never wanted to do it again.

then I changed the question I asked. instead of asking them to tell me whether they could do it or couldn't do it, I asked them to raise their hand for one of three options:

You can definitely do this.

It will be hard or scary or uncomfortable, but you can try to do this.

It will definitely be too hard, scary, or uncomfortable, and you cannot or should not try to do this.

suddenly, almost nobody was opting out of these experiences.

they would try, even if they were scared, because they know that being scared didn't necessarily mean that they couldn't do it at all. and more importantly, they knew that if they needed to stop, that was an option; they weren't trapped in their decision to try.

and the real takeaway here, for me, is in the nuance: people need to be able to challenge themselves and to be uncomfortable in order to grow, and people need to be able to opt out in order for opting in to be a safe option.

[queer-as-used-by-tolkien]

I show up to fandoms a bit like Demandred to the Last Battle: late & screaming.

[queer-as-used-by-tolkien]

[queer-as-used-by-tolkien]

It makes me happy when they listen

[queer-as-used-by-tolkien]

It IS important I think to acknowledge that sometimes the church, whether when you were a kid or even if you're still going, CAN GET THINGS WRONG.

There is no replacement for studying the Bible for yourself.

Only YOU are responsible for what you believe. Not your pastor. Or your parents.

Friendly reminder that if you used to go to Church or a Christian school as a kid, but did not continue to study or grow your faith as you got older, than - no, you actually don't understand Christianity on the same level as a practicing adult believer.

I'm tired of hearing people dismiss the Christian faith and say 'well, I went to church as a kid, so I know what you believe'. That's the same as saying, 'my parents took my to the aquarium every week as a kid, so I know as much as your average marine biologist'.

If you're going to brag about how much knowledge you have about Christianity anyway, you should at least try not to say it on posts where you get things blatantly wrong about the Bible, the Church or- idk- the core message of the Gospel.

[queer-as-used-by-tolkien]

reblog if ur mom is smart and beautiful

[queer-as-used-by-tolkien]

let’s stop seeing sex as the biggest thing you can do to show someone you love them

[queer-as-used-by-tolkien]

ALL? You mixed deep profound serious moments with gags and jokes and memes and I love all of them how dare you?

Im going to have to choose OUT OF CONTEXT. Meaning, which of these would I like best as a random quote? Which would be side by side with a friend (or that whole exchange, really), that speaks to me. The rest require the vast context of LotR to have any real meaning (even second breakfast, it's only funny in the context of hobbits), this exchange was short and sweet and friendly and aaaaahhhhhh and could be put anywhere, really.

NEW VERSION. :)

#lotr movies

[queer-as-used-by-tolkien]

you are 23  and your hands hold steady the block of wood you are shaping and the sweet aromatic smell of sawdust is curling around you  maybe your mother’s voice floats through an open door to tell you a meal is ready maybe you still have something to learn about carpentry as you work alongside Joseph 30 years is a long time to spend waiting quietly faithful, caring for your mother and your father, for your sisters and your brothers working with your hands ‘til the hands of God are calloused going to the synagogue to hear your words read week upon week you are 23 you are patient  building a whole life of not my will but yours, Father

maybe you pick up a nail from the workbench look at it and know 10 years from now rough hands will hold you down and drive a spike through your wrist  spilling blood onto rough wood  maybe you are already making that sacrifice now quietly faithful maybe you can teach me how to be 23 waiting, quietly faithful caring for my mother and my father, my sisters and my brothers working with the hands God gave me hearing your words week upon week

build in me a whole life of not my will but yours, Jesus

[queer-as-used-by-tolkien]

Unhinged framing for a post break up episode is all I'm saying

[queer-as-used-by-tolkien]

Reptile boy 😛

[queer-as-used-by-tolkien]

Lovely addition. Yes, it might be TRUE that all we need is Jesus, but saying that and nothing else - as OP suggests - is absolutely horrible. That's why I went to such pains to explain what I've experienced and my viewpoint and to show that I empathize and understand what's going on.