transparent struggle

Musings on The Return of the King, part IV

In the movie, Frodo’s struggle once inside Mordor, is nothing compared to the book. In the book, he quickly wastes away and becomes ill, weak, emaciated. His burden is greater and greater until it is almost unbearable. Inside Mount Doom, his character falters in the book just as in the movie, but it is more disappointing in the movie because he had struggled less up to that point. We are left to realize that there are multiple conflicts at work here and that the ring would have won over Frodo had it not already won over Gollum. It was Gollum’s greed that saved Frodo from the same fate. It seems that in the end, Frodo wasn’t strong enough to complete his task. This shouldn’t be surprising as we are forewarned way back in the first book when Gandalf tells us that even Gollum may have something yet to do. I wish that the movie had portrayed Frodo’s struggle more strongly.
No doubt there is plenty to contemplate about Frodo’s refusal to destroy the ring, but what I’m left to contemplate is why it bothered me in the movie but not in the book. Having understood the struggle that Frodo was enduring in the book, I was not surprised at his failure. I was compassionate and glad that Gollum was there. Frodo’s struggle was hidden in the movie, or at least not successfully shown. I was surprised that he stumbled and let down.
I am struck at the realization of our need for strength, encouragement and support of those around us, and at the necessity that we be real, transparent, and authentic. Why are we so blown away when one of our own stumbles, especially a conspicuous Christian leader or celebrity? We are not willing to be human with one another. We are not willing to share our struggles, to be held accountable. So many major tumbles could be prevented by our receiving help back at the stubbed toe. We hide and do not address our weaknesses and we appear to be strong. But our hidden weaknesses overtake us and we are left to fall with no one to catch us, because no one sees it coming. We damage the cause because we are exposed as the opposite of what we’ve preached rather than as one who knows of what he speaks because, he too struggles and is dependent on grace. Authenticity and transparency breed trust and kill hypocrisy. A life is modeled that is inviting to other strugglers because God’s grace is made evident and attainable.