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

We are, as a whole, too attached to vain things.

Don't get me wrong, things of this earth were created by God for us to enjoy, and that is good and right. But when we can not live without them, when they supplant our need for God, when we look to them instead of the things above, we are too attached.
I love the house I built myself, but if God burns it to the ground, I will give thanks.
I love the many costumes I've made over the years, but if God takes them from me, I will give thanks.
The strongest faith I have seen was not in people who had everything but those that society abandoned. The woman on the street corner who wasn't sure when she was going to eat again. The girl who asked me to drive her across town because she had to take care of her mother, both of whom hadn't eaten, neither of whom could get jobs.
We should strive to be more like them, to be lovers of poverty. It's when we have nothing, that we learn how much we need Him.

#cosplay #costuming #lotr #ranger #archer #archery #ithilien #lordoftherings #gondor #lotrcosplay #hema #pipe #pipes #pipesmoking #sword #swordplay #fantasy #fantasycharacter #larp #larping #larper #survival #bushcraft #catholic #catholicism #catholicmen #dailymeditation

Conversion is not a moment. There is never a time when you simply decide to be one thing and not another. Conversion is a choice. Even when Saul is struck from his horse and blinded, he could have continued his path of persecution. The same is true for us. Each of us must wake up every day and choose what kind of person we are going to be.
With varying levels of success. I have days where I am a behemoth of my faith and unbelievable to behold, and there are days when I struggle to do even basic tasks.
The difficulty is irrelevant, only the constant, daily decision matters.
#cosplay #costuming #lotr #ranger #archer #archery #ithilien #lordoftherings #gondor #lotrcosplay #hema #pipe #pipes #pipesmoking #sword #swordplay #fantasy #fantasycharacter #larp #larping #larper #survival #bushcraft #catholic #catholicism #catholicmen #dailymeditation

It's hard to dream of spring when the winter is so dang beautiful.

#lotr #lordoftherings #lotrcosplay #hobbit #larp #larping #ranger #ithilien #gondor #cosplay #middleearth #renaissancefestival #winter #winteraesthetic #aesthetic #forest

Scouting...

#lotr #lordoftherings #lotrcosplay #hobbit #larp #larping #ranger #ithilien #gondor #cosplay #middleearth #renaissancefestival #winter #winteraesthetic #aesthetic #forest

"What is a Consecrated Snowfield and why am I in one?"

#lotr #lordoftherings #lotrcosplay #hobbit #larp #larping #ranger #ithilien #gondor #cosplay #middleearth #renaissancefestival #winter #winteraesthetic #aesthetic #forest #eldenring

Me, looking around for the genius who thought leaving the elven stronghold in winter was a good idea.

#lotr #lordoftherings #lotrcosplay #hobbit #larp #larping #ranger #ithilien #gondor #cosplay #middleearth #renaissancefestival #winter #winteraesthetic #aesthetic #forest

Two of my favorite things are forests and snow. Comes from growing up in Northern Michigan, where winter lasts nine months and everything is either pine trees or corn. So when you combine the two, especially when it's heavy, thick snowflakes that muffle the whole world... I just plain love it.


#lotr #lordoftherings #lotrcosplay #hobbit #larp #larping #ranger #ithilien #gondor #cosplay #middleearth #renaissancefestival #winter #winteraesthetic #aesthetic #forest