Rereading The Hobbit and Reflecting on the Journeyi

The hero's journey is one of the major themes in literature. And as I've been rereading The Hobbit this week and seeing all the crises and difficulties Bilbo experiences, it made me think of my own journey. Many of Bilbo's adventures involve facing evil: evil trolls, goblins, Gollum (who made himself evil by his wicked choices), the wolves, and Smaug. He also experiences the help of friends who bring warmth and comfort to an otherwise dreary quest. And then there are the plodding times through the Mirkwood when all is dark and depressing, perhaps the worst evil of all -- the temptation to despair.

Isn't that a lot like life? We face evil and continuously have to fight it. The temptations to do wrong, the petty meanness so easy to fall into, the temptations to discouragement. "Just give up; it's too hard and who cares anyway?" That's when we need to look up and see the light and remember we are never alone and help is always close at hand.

What is your journey like today? Whatever it is, don't walk alone. Be aware of the spiritual twin walking with you, your guardian angel, who is so eager to help you. Look for ways that you can be a comfort to those around you. Somehow, in encouraging others, our own journey becomes easier. Have a blessed day. You are the hero on the most important journey of all -- life in Christ. Let us pray to be transformed so we can be a guide to others on the journey.