For the Shire

Disclaimer: If you are unfamiliar with The Hobbit, and/or The Lord of the Rings, then this post will most likely be very confusing to you as I am about to reference much of the world of Middle Earth that is the focus of the books.

My heart longs for the Shire. I've thought a lot about it these last few days. It is a place of peace and rest. There are trees and fields, warm sunshine and cool breezes, green grass and clear running streams. It is a place of tranquility and no worries. It's a place full of life and celebration. It is a place of light burdens, good food, and no risks. Hobbits aren't normally adventurous and don't tend to go exploring, they don't take risks or try new things, and they often tend to be fat. Why does my heart long for the Shire?

I've been thinking about it for the last few minutes. The Shire is a paradise, on the soundtrack for the movie, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, the track, Concerning Hobbits is one of the most relaxing and peaceful things I've ever heard, and it captures the feeling of the Shire perfectly. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHjv0GS-f8Q&feature=relmfu)

I think in many ways all of our hearts long for the Shire. And as I've thought about it my feelings have changed. It is not bad for us to long for the Shire. At first I thought that my desire shouldn't be for a place like that. But as I reflected I realized that I was made for that. When this world was created it was a paradise. It was a place like the Shire.

But as in the books by J.R.R. Tolkien, the Shire is threatened. Its peaceful inhabitants are forced out of their lives of tranquility and must journey through the hazards of the wild. They travel through Rohan and Gondor, Fangorn and Mirkwood, the Misty Mountains and Moria, and ultimately into Mordor to Mount Doom. They must travel through the perils of the world in order to reclaim the Shire and its tranquility.

In the novels, but completely overlooked by the movies, at the end of the journey the Shire must be retaken and restored. It must be fought for, won back, and made new again. But it is only through the struggles of the journey that the four Hobbits have gained the strength and confidence to fight this battle. In the end everything is restored, the Shire is once again the place of peace and rest, of life and celebration, and the home of fat Hobbits who don't have to take risks.

I think we long for the Shire because we were made for the Shire. God created us for the paradise of Eden, but sin entered the world and we've been forced out into the wild. Our lives are on a journey that will take us through struggles and hardships. There will be places along the way for rest, like Rivendell, Lorien, and the hall of Beorn, but most of the journey is difficult.

We aren't alone, there are those stronger, wiser, and more experienced that travel with us. There is Gandalf, the wise, who gives counsel and guidance as we travel. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli are there to fight the battles along side of us. We have Merry and Pippen to encourage us and make us laugh. And always we have faithful Samwise who will never leave our side. We have the King watching over us and traveling with us, fighting battles to protect us. We have good friends to journey with us, even to the Lonely Mountain or the fires of Mount Doom. But in the end it all leads back to the Shire. In the end everything is restored to what it was intended to be.

My heart longs for the Shire, but the journey there is perilous and there are many adventures and battles ahead. But at the end of my journey, I will find rest in the Shire. We will celebrate together as we worship the King.

To God alone be the glory!

Peace be with you