Bookworms: The Hobbit

Bookworms is a new series of reflections on books that have encouraged me, challenged me, made me think differently. I love books that make me think and ones I can get lost in, ones that have captivating stories or ones of captivating importance. You can browse my bookshelf at the bottom of my blog to see my eclectic collection of recent reads. In this series, I'll share some reflections on some of the ones that have been especially meaningful to me. Enjoy!

Photo by Primitha, Creative Commons License

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

I love to read, but lately I get caught up in reading for work – reading about social issues or academic research on higher education, most non-fiction and pieces that connect with interests of mine, but not necessarily the most interesting reads in and of themselves.

In prepping for the vocational calling class I taught last spring, I came across a Tolkien short story, The Leaf. It is one of the most beautiful, imaginative, and poignant stories I have ever read. It is such a metaphor for vocation and work, such a picture of the unfinished picture that God paints in our lives. If you haven’t read it, it’s definitely worth a read. (It’s short, so it’s a manageable commitment.)

The Leaf was my first introduction to Tolkien, and he wrote it because he thought he would die before finishing what he considered his life’s work, The Lord of the Rings. I have never been much into fantasy or adventure, but after reading The Leaf, I knew I wanted to dive into the series. I know it’s popular; I know people love it. I was not convinced I would love it, though. Yet, I felt strangely drawn toward it, so I finally picked up a copy of The Hobbit and sat down to see what it was all about. I couldn't put it down.

What an adventure! Bilbo, the unsuspecting hero on an unexpected adventure, discovers there is much more to life beyond the comfort of staying at home, the Arkenstone of Thrain, or the power of being invisible. There is friendship and courage and selflessness. What I think is one of Tolkien’s gifts is the ability to have his characters – regular, normal, like us characters (except that they are hobbits and dwarves and such) – point us to the true, noble, beautiful, and good. He can paint powerful pictures of the ugliness of human nature, too, (in goblins and spiders and such) that stands in stark contrast. Sometimes we watch movies and want to like the bad guys; not so, in a Tolkien piece. And we don’t just want to like the good guys, but we want to see some of ourselves in them. We want to think we are capable of such courage, such nobility, such adventure. Maybe that is why so many are drawn into this story. It is one that gives us courage to venture out a little further into who God has called us to be. Even when the road seems scary and uncertain, we can be convinced it is a journey worth making and that we have a Guide who will lead us along the path.

I loved the adventure. Onward… it reminded me of a old favorite:

Saddle up your horses
We've got a trail to blaze
Through the wild blue yonder
Of God's amazing grace

Let's follow our Leader
Into the glorious unknown
This is a life like no other
This is the great adventure, yeah

-Steven Curtis Chapman, The Great Adventure

Three Cups of Tea & More

Over the holidays, I finished reading “Three Cups of Tea,” the story of Greg Mortenson, a mountain climber who found himself building schools in remote areas of Pakistan and later Afghanistan. His story is a compelling one – During a failed attempt to climb K2, he finds himself lost and taken in by a remote village. He is moved by their hospitality and promises to return and help them build a school. At the time, he has no idea how hard it will be to get the funds, the obstacles that he will run into, and the sacrifices that he will have to make. But he nonetheless perseveres, keeps his promise to the village, and along the way discovers a new life calling. Since then, his reputation in the region and across the world has grown. He has built numerous schools and has been a vocal advocate for education, particularly women’s education, as a way to change communities and instill hope. (I highly recommend his book, by the way.)

As I read his book, I was struck by how easy it would have been for him to have given up on that promise. It would have been easy for him to return to his work in the US and forgotten about the people that he encountered, forgotten about the need that he saw. At one point, he wrote over 500 letters asking for support and got only one $100 check in return. Later as he was preparing to give a speech to foster support, he set out over 250 chairs, and had no one show up except two store employees who were not interested in his school project at all. It would have been easy for him to walk away.  But he didn’t. He gave his presentation anyway. As he was cleaning up afterwards and feeling like a failure, he found a $25000 check that an anonymous person had left. Unbeknownst to him, someone else had been listening.

That story sticks out to me. And in spite of all his future successes and all the schools that he has since built, I think that story resonates with me the most – his decision to continue with his efforts when it seemed like no one was paying attention, like no one cared. Too many times, I tend to give up when I think no one is listening (or reading). If I can’t see that my efforts are making a difference, it is really hard for me to be motivated to continue, to stick it out, to be faithful.

And yet, I think those times when the challenges come and we can’t see the immediate results are the times when it really becomes faith, when it becomes not about what we see, but the conviction that we have that our cause is right, that we are right to care, to notice, to act.

I don’t know what God has planned for this project, for this race, for this fundraising. But I believe in our cause. I believe that He is honored in this group of people who choose to care and to give of our time, talents, and resources. There have been times when it would have been easy to walk away. But something keeps drawing me back to this project, to Carolyn’s desire to do something great for God, for my desire to cultivate compassion and build off my experiences in Nicaragua. I believe that we are right to care. And beyond that, the results become less important than the process, than our faithfulness, than our journey as a team.

Thank you for sharing that journey with us. Please pray that we will remain faithful even during the hard days & that God will use this for good, His good in our lives and for the good Samaritan’s Purse is doing even in the uttermost parts of the earth.

Happy 2011!

www.samaritanspurse.org

http://www.firstgiving.com/columbiacollege-teamsp