Service.

We are called to serve others, and this is a good calling. But we are called to serve our families first, and in this, we often neglect our duties.
It is an easy thing to show kindness and generosity to a stranger. It is easy to be patient and charitable to our coworkers. It is far harder and more important to show that same kindness, generosity, patience and charity to our wives, husbands, children and parents. Those we are constantly around, the people we've seen at their lowest and have seen us at our worst. But this is a greater responsibility, the harder calling, the harsher requirement that improves us in every conceivable way.

#costume #costuming #costumer #costumewip #wip #workinprogress #fantasy #fantasycharacter #fantasyoc #ranger #lotr #lotrcosplay #bushcraft #aesthetic #forest #forestlovers #hiking #hike #hobbit #ithilien #renaissancefestival #archery #middleearth #middleearthrangers #rangersofthewilds #hair #longhair #pipe #catholic #dailymeditation

Always ready, always vigilant.

Sloth, is dangerous. The world will always tell you to relax, take it easy. You deserve a rest day, after all. Never on the Lord's Day, that he set aside for rest and refreshment, though. The world wants you stale, colorless, just going along with the flow.

God calls you to the opposite. A Christian is active, they are vigilant. A Christian is at War with the world, and with themselves. A Christian is in revolt against the sloth and decay of the modern world. Stay Vigilant.

#costume #costuming #costumer #costumewip #wip #workinprogress #fantasy #fantasycharacter #fantasyoc #ranger #lotr #lotrcosplay #bushcraft #aesthetic #forest #forestlovers #hiking #hike #hobbit #ithilien #renaissancefestival #archery #middleearth #middleearthrangers #rangersofthewilds #hair #longhair #pipe #catholic #dailymeditation

War.

To be at war with oneself is not a new concept. To let the new man live, the old one must die. Today, we may couch it in terms like "self-improvement" or "self-actualization" or "manifesting," but it is an ancient term. St Paul himself teaches us that "for Him to increase, I must decrease," he begs for help, saying "the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
St Paul recognized that he is in a war, and his opponent is himself. If we wish to truly live, if we wish to serve the Lord Almighty, we must recognize this war.
And we must declare War against Ourselves. Our soul hangs in balance.

#costume #costuming #costumer #costumewip #wip #workinprogress #fantasy #fantasycharacter #fantasyoc #ranger #lotr #lotrcosplay #bushcraft #aesthetic #forest #forestlovers #hiking #hike #hobbit #ithilien #renaissancefestival #renfaire #middleearth #middleearthrangers #rangersofthewilds #hair #longhair #pipe #catholic #dailymeditation

I'd like to make a clever comment or evangelize somehow, but, uh, I'm too busy admiring my own hair. Dang, those are some lustrous locks there.

#costume #costuming #costumer #costumewip #wip #workinprogress #fantasy #fantasycharacter #fantasyoc #ranger #lotr #lotrcosplay #bushcraft #aesthetic #forest #forestlovers #hiking #hike #hiker #hobbit #ithilien #renaissancefestival #renfaire #middleearth #middleearthrangers #rangersofthewilds #hair #hairstyles #longhair #pipe

So, mostly due to me mixing up my months and not doing enough research beforehand, this weekend was interesting. We ended up going to the @kyrenfair
for the first time and had a very lovely time. As much as I enjoy size and immersion, there's a lot to be said about smaller, friendly and much more relaxed atmospheres. I'd happily go back again in the future.

#costume #costuming #costumer #costumewip #wip #workinprogress #fantasy #fantasycharacter #fantasyoc #ranger #lotr #lotrcosplay #bushcraft #aesthetic #forest #forestlovers #hiking #hike #hiker #hobbit #ithilien #renaissancefestival #renfaire