I kind of want to re-read the hobbit. I don't own it anymore. I used to have a 4 pack set of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings and I enjoyed it a lot. I took it to school one day and then they disappeared.
The reason I really want to read the Hobbit again is because of one part that really seems to put into perspective life for me and others.
There is a part in there that has the dwarves and Bilbo walking down a path. Gandalf has instructed them to stay on the path no matter what. Of course, they end up hungry and thirsty because they haven't brought enough stuff and they are tempted by elves in the forest having feasts. So they leave the path to go find these elves and get themselves in some trouble for it. And that is when Bilbo starts to show his true colours and helps save his companions and so on and so on......
I think my life has been like this in many ways. I know that is probably what Tolkien was driving at and that I am just now figuring it out and that makes me slower than the average but it was really driven home to me the other night for some reason.
You walk down the path of life and you get hungry and thirsty. And you know you aren't supposed to take these detours away from what God wants you to do but it is like you can smell and almost touch the things that life has to offer if you are willing to step from that path. But once you step away you get into trouble.
I think the best part of this is that it isn't Bilbo coming to save us from our willingness to stray (although yes I could make a reference here to Jesus and it has crossed my mind) but it is more to me like God has rebuilt the path so that even when I wander I end up back on the road I am supposed to be going on. Yes, I get some help too. But it is like when I look into the darkness and see something tempting; sometimes I am strong and sometimes not. And when I am not, God is right there building a new path that leads in front of me so as I go along I can step back onto the path and keep going so I will eventually make my destination. I hope that makes sense.
I guess that is rather simple but at the same time it really struck me as an apt reference the other night. I think I like it; as messy and disorganized as the idea is.
I realize that when you get dumped on enough that you tend to get cynical and a little hard of heart. But I am saddened of a situation that happened to me last month. I was planning on attending a get together and due to circumstances beyond my control I didn't make it. Unfortunately, the host of this little party has been rather standoffish to me ever since I missed this party. I have been told that in the past there have been others that have skipped and I realize that the host spends quite a bit of money on this get together. I emailed and also talked to the host in person and explained the situation but they still do not seem receptive to giving me any sign that they understand and forgive my absence. I feel saddened by this fact.
I guess that sometimes when you get dumped on enough you are looking for excuses and when someone gives another you tend to not respond in the friendliest of manners. I feel sad for the host that it has come to that.
I think the lesson there is that the way you look at life is the way you will see it. If you see the world as full of people out to get you, then when something happens you will see them plotting. If you see the world full of good people who make mistakes, it will be easier to forgive them when the unexpected happens. Hopefully we can have more of the latter than the former but sometimes I worry because I see a more "me first" attitude as we go along and I hope that there are still people out there who see forgiveness, understanding, and compassion as some of the most important things in the world. We will see where this develops.
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