I am a hobbit. My good friend, known here as Albertus Magnus, introduced me to The Hobbit in college. Bilbo and I became fast friends and his line to Gandalf's invitation to join a quest, "Adventures? They are messy things, they make one late for dinner" - my motto.
Being a hobbit and trying to follow Jesus feels a bit like being a fish and trying to stay dry. Jesus constantly calls me out of my hole. There is some comfort in knowing I'm not alone in wanting to be left alone. In Mark 8:22-25 a blind man is brought to Jesus. He is, "led out blind" (been there). Taken from his comfort zone (read, "Hobbit Hole"). Jesus spits in his face (a topic for another day). And after seeing "men as trees" (huh?) is eventually healed.
Why the dramatics? Why lead him out of town? Why the spit? Why not heal him the first time? Certainly Jesus didn't have to do all of this for his power to work.
Speaking as a hobbit, I suspect the drama was about the blind man. Blind men move about in their homes as if sighted. In fact to watch a blind man in his home one would think they could see - more importantly they might forget that they can't.
Leaving home. Being lead out blind. Spit in your eye. Do-overs. ...adventures are messy things. But there is something about them that renders us, well, children - and, finally face to face with Jesus, sighted.
Be His,
Didymus
After viewing the exhibition Philomena recommended to us the other day, I came back to your post.
The trench warfare of World War I is probably the best imagery we have to think of hole dwelling. The hobbits' holes are clean, dry and comfortable--but entirely fictitious. Sure, they are better than getting shot at, but they are never as good as we think the are--and the imaginary hole is not real. The trenches of France were all too real.
So, what do we know of the holes in life? Though offering the appearance of comfort, shelter, and safety, they don't offer life--which includes the chance of death.
Books will not be written about those that do not venture boldly, and risk much. This might mean adventures far from home, or it might mean stretching beyond our comfort zone at work or even at home--remember Lucy inviting people into her messy hole?
Whether life is found in the holes or out on the road I'm not sure. I do see though that our Lord was, and is, on the move throughout this world. With His final words on earth, He sends us out of our holes too. And as the soldiers of the Somme showed us, running out of our holes and into enemy fire is not safe. I hope the promise: "I am with you ALWAYS..." is most real as we leave the trenches.
But I also think it's not all storming the gates. Keep in mind Tolkien's sub-title "There and back again"--the adventures and risks do take us home, one way or another.
A mole, Digging in a hole, Digging up my soul...
Thomas More
Posted by: Thomas More | July 28, 2006 at 03:51 PM