Greetings Dear Reader,
When we begin reading Tolkien’s masterworks, Bilbo is the
first Hobbit we meet. It is clear that
his life is simple and sedentary. He is also
not all that he appears to be on the surface of it.
After hastily joining the quest to recapture the Lonely Mountain,
Bilbo finds the One Ring under the Misty Mountains in the caves where Gollum
lost it. He finds the ring just before Gollum
finds him. Gollum’s plan is to kill
Bilbo and eat him. Bilbo recognizes
right away the danger of his situation.
He wins a riddle contest and Gollum goes to fetch his ring to kill
Bilbo.
Bilbo accidentally discovers that the renders him
invisible. He then finds that he has
Gollum at his mercy near the exit of the caves.
He holds his sword, ready to dispatch the wretched creature but instead
has mercy and lets him live. This turns
out to be the act that both alerts Sauron to the location of the ring and
results in its destruction. Even though
there is great suffering because Hobbits and the Shire come to the attention of
the Dark Lord, it is Gollum who falls into the cracks of doom destroying the One
Ring.
The other aspect of Bilbo that is vital to understand is
that he willingly gave up the ring to Frodo.
He is the first to do so and was able to carry it out after possessing it
for many years. Unlike other ring bearers,
he possessed it more than it possessed him.
Gandalf speculates that some greater force wanted Bilbo to find the One
Ring. We must remember that the entire
story is an allegory of redemption.
The parallel for me is obvious and vital. I do not understand when times are dark or
dangerous. It happens. We either turn to the Father in faith or we
do not see that the purpose behind most tragic things is beyond us. Like Bilbo, I cannot see the design behind all
that unfolds. My current distress may
lead to some great thing unfolding of which I have no understanding.
The key for me is the example of mercy, duty, and power I
see in Bilbo. He had mercy even when assaulted
or insulted. He kept to his duty even
when facing death and dragons. He let power
go willingly when he realized that he could no longer hold it. When he did hold it, he used it
carefully. We cannot wield power without
it impacting us, but we can choose to do so in a way that does not harm others.
I must see past simplicity of life to the richness of being
included in the grand story. Job reminds
us that even if things are tragic it serves the will of the Father. Bilbo shows us that going through great trial
and sorrow can still lead to good. I
must believe all of this whether I have power over it or not. I must realize, Dear Reader, that I do not
understand everything about my part in the story. I do know that I must follow the path and the
One who leads me. The road leads home eventually
no matter how dark the current passage. I must follow. You are always welcome company.
The
Road Goes Ever On and On – J.R.R. Tolkien – Performed by CamillasChoice
The Road goes ever
on and on
Down from the
door where it began.
Now far ahead the
Road has gone,
And I must follow,
if I can,
Pursuing it with
eager feet,
Until it joins some
larger way
Where many paths
and errands meet.
And whither then? I
cannot say.
The Road goes ever
on and on
Out from the door
where it began.
Now far ahead the
Road has gone,
Let others follow
it who can!
Let them a journey
new begin,
But I at last with
weary feet
Will turn towards
the lighted inn,
My evening-rest and
sleep to meet.
Roads go ever ever
on,
Over rock and under
tree,
By caves where
never sun has shone,
By streams that
never find the sea;
Over snow by winter
sown,
And through the
merry flowers of June,
Over grass and over
stone,
And under mountains
in the moon.
Roads go ever on
and on
Under cloud and
under star,
Yet feet that
wandering have gone
Turn at last to
home afar.
Eyes that fire and
sword have seen
And horror in the
halls of stone
Look at last on
meadows green
And trees and hills
they long have known.
Still round the
corner there may wait
A new road or a
secret gate,
And though I oft
have passed them by,
A day will come at
last when I
Shall take the
hidden paths that run
West of the Moon,
East of the Sun.
Wishing you joy in the journey,
Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every
writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a
homeowner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure
store.”
(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Every human story is part of the great story that leads
to the Father getting everything back to Good.
Contacts for Aramis
Thorn:
#aramisthorn
Bookings: aramisthorn@aramisthorn.com
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