I'm Such a Hobbit!

I'm Such a Hobbit!

In a room, in the corner of the basement, lived a teenage girl full of dreams and aspirations. 
She was given a paperback book entitled, “The Hobbit” from a friend who convinced her that it was the “coolest book ever written”. Because she thought so much of that friend she decided to open the little paperback and read the first sentence, “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit”, and because of those words an immediate bond was made with the author that literally lasted a lifetime.

Into early adulthood I still loved Tolkien’s writings and finished The Lord of the Rings trilogy after receiving a beautiful hardcover collector’s edition, with fold out maps, as a Christmas gift in the late 70s.  I also had in my possession a 1975 calendar that my grandmother had given me that I loved, and the cartoon rendition of The Lord of the Rings, which I wasn’t to please with.  It just didn’t do the books justice.

In my late twenties I took an upper division literature class in college entitled, The Works of Tolkien, and needless to say I was engulfed in the parallels drawn between Tolkien’s books and his beloved Bible.  We covered the Simarillion, Unfinished Tales, The Inklings, and a biography of Tolkien to name a few.  I loved them all. 

When Peter Jackson’s version of Middle Earth came to the screen in 2001 I was delighted at the way he had captured each character just as I had imagine them in 1975.  Unbelievable to me that anyone could possibly make Tolkien’s Middle Earth real.  Peter Jackson did, and when my husband took me to see The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey a couple of weeks ago I walked away a happy 54 year old woman. 

I have never stopped drawing parallels between Tolkien’s Middle Earth and my life as a Christian, thanks to my college professor.  Now, that I am around the same age as Bilbo when Gandalf persuaded him to go on an “unexpected journey” I can see so many parallels between me and Tolkien’s hobbits, and so many parallels between Bilbo’s journey and my own Christian walk.  Here, let me tell you of a few:

Bilbo loved his teas and cakes and ate 5 times a day. (Like most hobbit I eat 4-5 times a day!  Really!) Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Luke 6:21

Bilbo loved maps. (My favorite map is the Word of God.) Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.  Psalms 119:105

Bilbo loved to write stories about the things that happened to him. (I love to write about my Ebenezer Stones to remind me of what God has done in my life.) Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.” I Samuel 7:11-13

Bilbo fretted about the abundance of food he had in his pantry when the dwarves came to visit him. (I actually have done the same thing when having company I worry about what the state my pantry will be in after they leave.  I keep a running mental check list of what I have and don’t have at all times.) Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matthew 6:26

Bilbo didn’t’ want to venture out of his comfort zone and at the same time he wanted to go on an adventure. (I wonder why God isn’t using me then complain if He does and I have to leave my chair to serve Him.)  …one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?  And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.  He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,  Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?  Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.  But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Luke 19: 16-22

During the first part of the journey Bilbo realized he didn’t have a handkerchief and wanted to go back after it. (I worry about having material things on my walk with God and think I need to stop the journey and go back and get them.) Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Luke 9:58

Bilbo had such compassion for Gullum that it hindered him from getting back with his company. (I have had such compassion for an unbeliever that the compassion has kept me from those who are “like minded in faith”.) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:14

Bilbo didn’t think much about Thorin at first then later realized the tremendous burden that Thorin carried for his people. (I am not always a good judge of character, often believing someone to be good when they are not then being surprise by the good in someone I thought wasn’t.)  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.  2 Corinthians 4:18

Bilbo was surprise at the strength he was able to gather when defending Thorin, at his ability to accomplish what he had been called to do. (This is probably the hardest thing for me to grasp, that I have God’s strength inside of me to accomplish the work He has set before me to do.) Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Ephesians 3:20

I could go on, all the way through the story and show parallel after parallel but I would rather challenge you to look at Tolkien’s work, or better said, his sermons, through the eyes of his faith and see in his characters you and me.







I'm Such a Hobbit!

In a room, in the corner of the basement, lived a teenage girl full of dreams and aspirations. 
She was given a paperback book entitled, “The Hobbit” from a friend who convinced her that it was the “coolest book ever written”. Because she thought so much of that friend she decided to open the little paperback and read the first sentence, “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit”, and because of those words an immediate bond was made with the author that literally lasted a lifetime.

Into early adulthood I still loved Tolkien’s writings and finished The Lord of the Rings trilogy after receiving a beautiful hardcover collector’s edition, with fold out maps, as a Christmas gift in the late 70s.  I also had in my possession a 1975 calendar that my grandmother had given me that I loved, and the cartoon rendition of The Lord of the Rings, which I wasn’t to please with.  It just didn’t do the books justice.

In my late twenties I took an upper division literature class in college entitled, The Works of Tolkien, and needless to say I was engulfed in the parallels drawn between Tolkien’s books and his beloved Bible.  We covered the Simarillion, Unfinished Tales, The Inklings, and a biography of Tolkien to name a few.  I loved them all. 

When Peter Jackson’s version of Middle Earth came to the screen in 2001 I was delighted at the way he had captured each character just as I had imagine them in 1975.  Unbelievable to me that anyone could possibly make Tolkien’s Middle Earth real.  Peter Jackson did, and when my husband took me to see The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey a couple of weeks ago I walked away a happy 54 year old woman. 

I have never stopped drawing parallels between Tolkien’s Middle Earth and my life as a Christian, thanks to my college professor.  Now, that I am around the same age as Bilbo when Gandalf persuaded him to go on an “unexpected journey” I can see so many parallels between me and Tolkien’s hobbits, and so many parallels between Bilbo’s journey and my own Christian walk.  Here, let me tell you of a few:

Bilbo loved his teas and cakes and ate 5 times a day. (Like most hobbit I eat 4-5 times a day!  Really!) Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Luke 6:21

Bilbo loved maps. (My favorite map is the Word of God.) Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.  Psalms 119:105

Bilbo loved to write stories about the things that happened to him. (I love to write about my Ebenezer Stones to remind me of what God has done in my life.) Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.” I Samuel 7:11-13

Bilbo fretted about the abundance of food he had in his pantry when the dwarves came to visit him. (I actually have done the same thing when having company I worry about what the state my pantry will be in after they leave.  I keep a running mental check list of what I have and don’t have at all times.) Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matthew 6:26

Bilbo didn’t’ want to venture out of his comfort zone and at the same time he wanted to go on an adventure. (I wonder why God isn’t using me then complain if He does and I have to leave my chair to serve Him.)  …one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?  And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.  He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,  Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?  Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.  But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Luke 19: 16-22

During the first part of the journey Bilbo realized he didn’t have a handkerchief and wanted to go back after it. (I worry about having material things on my walk with God and think I need to stop the journey and go back and get them.) Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Luke 9:58

Bilbo had such compassion for Gullum that it hindered him from getting back with his company. (I have had such compassion for an unbeliever that the compassion has kept me from those who are “like minded in faith”.) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:14

Bilbo didn’t think much about Thorin at first then later realized the tremendous burden that Thorin carried for his people. (I am not always a good judge of character, often believing someone to be good when they are not then being surprise by the good in someone I thought wasn’t.)  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.  2 Corinthians 4:18

Bilbo was surprise at the strength he was able to gather when defending Thorin, at his ability to accomplish what he had been called to do. (This is probably the hardest thing for me to grasp, that I have God’s strength inside of me to accomplish the work He has set before me to do.) Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Ephesians 3:20

I could go on, all the way through the story and show parallel after parallel but I would rather challenge you to look at Tolkien’s work, or better said, his sermons, through the eyes of his faith and see in his characters you and me.