A stamp printed in Great Britain shows image of The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien circa 1998.
[this is part of the series “A.P.E. in the Movies” read the other post here]
In three weeks time, the first of a new trilogy based on JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit will be released in cinemas. If the film is anything like the book, then it will be a great movie to go see with an emerging leader you might be mentoring.
In the first chapter of the book, Bilbo Baggins is relaxing at his home and blowing smoke rings as he enjoys his pipe. He is completely unprepared for the arrival of the wizard Gandalf:
“Very pretty”‘ said Gandalf. “‘But I have no time to blow smoke-rings this morning. I am looking for someone to share in an adventure that I am arranging, and it’s very difficult to find anyone.”
“‘I should think so–in these parts! We are plain quiet folk and I have no use for adventures. Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner! I can’t think what anybody sees in them,” said our Mr Baggins, then stuck one thumb behind his braces, and blew out another even bigger smoke-ring. Then he took out his morning letters, and began to read, pretending to take no more notice of the old man.
For Bilbo, the idea of an adventure was threatening because it undermined the comfort and routine he normally enjoyed. Who, after all, wants to go and fight a dragon if it will cause them to miss their dinner?!
And who wants to follow the call of God for a life wholly devoted to his mission? It might disrupt a lot more things than dinner. Finances, relationships, job prospects, credibility, housing options and much more is at stake. No no… it is far better to stay at home!
And yet… we feel the pull, the draw, of the one who CS Lewis called “the gate to all good adventure”.
It’s powerful image.
Why not take a younger leader with you to see The Hobbit and then afterwards grab a drink and ask them this:
“What kind of missional adventure do you feel God is inviting you onto and what is pulling on you to ‘stay home for dinner’ and not participate?”
[this is part of the series “A.P.E. in the Movies” read the other post here]
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Good advice, Luke. So many films contain useful messages like this, the knack is to find them and put them to use. And this is just one question to ask based on one short scene from one, single film.
What amazing scope there is. How many more good questions can we find in ‘The Hobbit’?
Excellent stuff!
Thanks for this, Luke. Timely, too. I read it this AM, and used this idea in a discussion with my kids at breakfast. (I’ve been reading The Hobbit to them.)
Hi Luke, that is a question I struggle with a lot. As someone who grew up in church I have often been taught that God has promised a nice neat safe life. However, the Bible teaches something much different. Just yesterday I preached a sermon along the lines that God has called us to something very far outside of our safety zone. It was titled “Big Hairy Audacious Faith” (A play on BHAG – Big Hairy Audacious Goals from the book Built to Last) As is the case of most of my sermons, they seem to relate more to my on personal journey. I know God is calling me to something that will cause dinner to be late. I just have yet to identify or found the courage to jump out of the boat. Maybe Gandalf will show up and give me a little prodding.