Short spoken monologue (YouTube) by Nick Stumbo that uses a scene from The Lord of the Rings—Frodo volunteering to destroy the Ring and asking for guidance from Gandalf—as a metaphor for recovery and counseling. Emphasizes two complementary elements in recovery: personal willingness to undertake the journey and humility to seek/accept guidance or partnership (groups, counselors) to show the way.
It makes me think of one of my favorite movies, which is the Lord of the Rings trilogy. And there's this great moment, you know, at the Council of the Ring where all these really wise leaders are trying to say, like, what are we going to do about this ring? And they decide it has to be destroyed in the heart of Mount Doom. But who will take it? You know? And the little hobbit, Frodo, goes up and he says, I'll do it, but I don't know the way. Who will show me the way? And that's where Gandalf, you know, the wise wizard, steps up. He's like, I'll lead. I'll show you the way. That's like what we need. That willingness to say, I will take this journey is a big part of the equation. But also that humility to say, but I don't know how to get there. Can someone show me the way? And that's what group is for. That's what counseling is for. That's why pure desire is. Here is say, we want to be your guide to partner with your willingness. But you have to be able to say, I don't know which way to go.
