David Haddon

As I wrote in my book, I've read J. R. R. Tolkein's "The Lord of the Rings" three times and I believe his book had a positive influence in my life. I was less impressed with Peter Jackson's film versions of the Trilogy. Certainly, they have great visuals, but he sometimes loses his grip on "the core of the original," especially in "The Two Towers" where he mistakenly portrays Tolkein's model of nobility and virtue, Faramir, as a neglected sibling jealous of his older brother Boromir.

As to my personal biography, the adjoining pictures portray important aspects of my life. First, the granite wall above the lakes in the Trinity Alps reminds me of my youthful immersion in the majesty and beauty of these mountains. They show forth the glory and solidity of the Rock that is Christ Jesus, my Lord and Savior.

The first tree I call the Patriarch of the Mountain Hemlocks. It is a large hemlock that has long weathered the wild winter blizzards of its home high up in the Trinity Alps of Northwestern California. Beside it appears the whitened bole of a dead companion that did not survive the rigors of the winter storms. The contrasting dark green Patriarch is an emblem of the Life that enables the Christ follower to weather the storms of life.

For me, the next tree is Treebeard, the ancient Ent who visits such wrath on Saruman's White Tower in "The Two Towers." The tree itself is a massive California incense cedar whose huge uplifted arms suggest its Entish nature. I took the picture near Granite Lake in the Trinity Alps on my August 2012 backpack to the lake. I discuss the place of Tolkein's "Lord of the Rings" in my life in Chapter 10 of my book.

I stand next to another incense cedar near Granite Creek where my friend Andrew and I camped on our way up to Granite Lake. Only the outline of my little guitar is visible, strapped in a black plastic bag on my backpack at the base of the cedar. I always used to carry a .38-Special revolver in the woods; I now prefer this insturment of praise and worship.

The deep red of the Indian warrior flowers that bloom in February in the chaparral near my home in Redding, California, speaks of the blood, of the death of Christ that brings forgiveness to believers and liberates us from the power of sin and Satan.

Finally, I have a "garden" of gallardia flowers out in the chapparal. I scattered the gallardia seeds in the fall a couple of years ago and a few came up the first year. Those have reseeded themselves and I have kept some of them blooming all summer long by watering them every other day or so on my morning praise walks. Their red and yellow petals remind me of the life and light that Christ brings into the lives of believers.

These images together sum up much of what has been most important in my life and in my "Confessions."