*I realize that by starting this
out with a quote from The Hobbit I am aligning myself with “Trekkies” and Star Wars geeks. The truth is I am fantasy nerd, a Trekkie and a total Star Wars geek. So label me if you will but read on…
I first read The Hobbit when I was 8 or 9 and loved it. Now my 9 year old son is struggling through it and so I picked it up again recently and couldn’t put it down. This particular passage spoke to me in an odd sort of way. “So cheer up Bilbo and don’t look so glum…This is your expedition after all. Think of the treasure at the end, and forget the forest and the dragon, at any rate until tomorrow morning.” (Spoken by Gandalf)
You might not understand the implications of it at first but from where God has me right now in my life, this was a poignant reminder about where my hope lies. Bilbo (for those of you who aren’t familiar with this rotund little fellow) is a hobbit who likes nothing more than the comfort and safety of his warm hobbit hole. He eats well and keeps his larder stocked at all times with good treats. He has comfy chairs and a beautiful garden and a familiar little pipe that he enjoys. Basically, he is safe and secure in his dependable world. Kind of like where I was a few years ago. I owned my own home, my kids were at a nice Christian school, I was a member of a nice church that I enjoyed serving in and the bills were always paid.
Bilbo is offered the chance to go on a daring, life threatening adventure with a group of dwarves with the promise of a great treasure at the end. Long story short, he gives up his comfortable little hobbit hole and ventures out into the vast Wild. Much like Bilbo, one day I was startled by an invitation to an adventure. Our invitation was not delivered by a wise old wizard but by a very wise and insistent God. Dan and I both felt the call to missions at the same time. In our excitement it was easy to overlook the dangers at first. Imagining what it would be like to live in Africa seemed so romantic and exotic and we couldn’t wait. But truth be told the journey anywhere can wear you out.
We found ourselves in Uganda three years after our initial heart tug to missions. Once we landed on the red soils of Uganda I began to see the adventure more clearly. It wasn’t nearly as exotic or romantic as I had made it out to be in my “perfect-missionary-life-fantasy”. It was HARD. After almost a year and a half here life is pretty normal for us. The early hard times seem to have passed and we feel like Uganda is home for now. However, often in the daily grind we can struggle more than in the difficult transitions.
“Do we really have to go through it?” Groaned the hobbit.
“Yes, you do!” said the wizard, “if you want to get to the other side. You must either go through or give up your quest. And I am not going to allow you to back out now, Mr. Baggins. I am ashamed of you for thinking of it…” (Gandalf speaking to Bilbo after Bilbo complains about going into Mirkwood Forest which was an unpleasant and dangerous place)
After reading this exchange between Bilbo and Gandalf I felt like I could relate to Bilbo’s complaint. Often I grow so weary of the daily life here in Uganda. The constant battle to fit into a place that is impossible to blend into! The seemingly uphill trudge against false teachings, superstitions and preconceived notions. I sometimes feel like Bilbo. “God do I really have to go through this? Isn’t there an easier way?”. And God responds, totally justified, “Yes, you must finish the race. There is no way you can give up and I won’t let you…”.
So what I actually see in these passages are parallels with Scripture. I know J.R.R. Tolkien said this wasn’t an allegory and I’m not arguing that point, but for me these passages reminded me of some well worn Scripture that brought encouragement.
“So cheer up Bilbo and don’t look so glum”… When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul. Psalm 94:19.
“This is your expedition after all. Think of the treasure at the end…”…Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12
“Forget the forest and the dragon, at any rate until tomorrow morning.”…Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:34
Okay, maybe it’s a stretch to compare The Hobbit to The Bible, maybe even silly. But it is often in funny surprising ways that God reminds me why I am here in Uganda. It’s not for the adventure or the glamour of a missionary life. It is for the joy of serving a loving, wise, holy God. It is for the joy of seeing the Gospel challenge, change, and grow people of any culture. The TREASURE is the hope of eternal life with Christ.
And lastly, a good reminder that my trials and misadventures are not pointless, my salvation is not mere luck, and if I could just see past myself I’d see God smiling a bit indulgently at my slow witted understanding of His ways:
“You don’t really suppose, do you, that all your adventures and escapes were managed by mere luck, just for your sole benefit? You are a very fine person, Mr. Baggins, and I am very fond of you; but you are only quite a little fellow in a wide world after all!” (Gandalf speaking)
I thank God for gifting J.R.R. Tolkien with such beautiful stories but even more so I thank God for being the Author of every story, including mine.
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