Watching Bilbo Baggins in “The Hobbit” last weekend started my thoughts going in a million different directions, especially on lifestyle and the idea of living life as an adventure.
In case eloquent elves, unsure hobbits and feisty dwarves aren't your entertainment of choice, a brief recap: A group of dwarves is on their way to Eragon- the place they used to call home before Smaug, a huge fire-breathing dragon comes in, destroyed the city, scared everyone off and claimed all their gold.
It is the decision of Bilbo Baggins, the unlikely hero, which captures me.
Bilbo Baggins had a choice to make. Would he surrender his lovely life in the Shire where he knew everyone, had a predictable routine to follow, a pipe to smoke, good cheese and other delightful food to eat.
His dilemma: go on an adventure or remain in his comfortable, albeit predictable, life.
His decision mirrors the decision each person has. In fact, I wonder if J.R. Tolkien didn't have the modern day man and woman in mind when he wrote The Hobbit.
In North America we can live fairly comfortable and predictable lives. We can dream about doing things but never get to the hard work of fleshing out the plan and working it.
Doing things is hard. Adventures are a messy business. Adventures are inconvenient, costly, and unpredictable. Not one of us is promised a happy ending.
The alternate to leading an adventurous life is not terribly exciting but it is fairly predictable and moderately safe. We can go through our jobs we have, pay the bills, show up for family affairs, acquire some stuff, acquire debt and pay it off, buy houses, build up 401K’s, maintain a schedule, stay in shape and do our best not to grow older.
These things will all consume our time and our lives but is the stuff that creates legacy and stories?
Even if you don’t know the storyline or saw the movie, you can probably guess what path Bilbo chose.
He chose to go on the adventure.
He almost missed it.
After stating he didn’t want to go and refusing to sign the contract (a contract that described all the risks involved in the future adventure) our unlikely hero falls asleep. The dwarves and Gandalf leave. Bilbo awakens to a quiet home, void of all the talk and conspiring that had gone on the night before.
Panic sets in.
It’s as if Bilbo gets a whiff of how empty his life is with his fine china and aged cheese- everything predictable and in place.
He grabs his back pack, the contract and runs out of his house and down the road.
“Where are you going Bilbo?” a neighbor calls out stunned to see his laid back neighbor showing such enthusiasm.
“I’m going on an adventure!” Bilbo yells.
Of course if Bilbo had declined the adventure there would be no story.
Ironically, the true could be said for our lives.
If we always go the road of the expected and the predictable we too, may not have an adventure.
We may live nice lives, comfortable lives, even productive lives- but not lives that inspire, encourage or move ourselves and others to bigger living.
Only you know what your own adventure is. I realize it’s messy. I can already hear your protests for all the reasons to stay safe and be responsible. They scream loudest in my own ear.
In fact, every time I begin to turn and go the way of the adventure, a million reasons why begin shouting in my ear, pulling on my jacket and reminding me of the securities that comfort brings.
What kind of stories will I have to tell one day? Will my life be a story worth telling? Was something done that was of use to others?
Or, will I, like Bilbo Baggins (pre-adventure) decide that “adventures are nasty business- they make you late for dinner” and return to my routine and safety net of habits and activities.
There is a quiet voice persistently whispering in my ear, what are you doing here? …you were made to live an adventure.
That little voice speaks to me a lot. I want to live an adventure, letting go of what doesn’t matter to follow after some very specific dreams in my heart and mind- how about you?
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