Joyful Ruins

I like to think we are all a bit like hobbits in the U.S.: comfortable, well-fed, well-housed, with a certain amount of manners, kindness, hospitality, and living in relative peace.

We live in comfort and are unaware of what is beyond our home. Like Bilbo finds himself at the beginning of the Hobbit, we can find ourselves annoyed by anything that interrupts our quiet comfortable life.

However, I believe, the moment any of us open our heart to God and begin to follow Jesus, our life has become a grand adventure, to which, remaining comfortable is impossible.

For Bilbo, opening up his door, inviting Gandalf in, changes his life. For us, accepting Jesus, surrendering ourselves, changes our life.

Like Bilbo, we may be hesitant to step out the door, out of our home, our safety, our comfort zone. We might sleep in or even sleep through God’s great plan for us. Except, God doesn’t let us miss out on His will and continues to challenge us, believe in us, and equip us.

Gandalf assumes Bilbo is accepting adventure and because he assumes, or, I think,believes in him, Bilbo finds himself swept up, running out of his comfortable home, not able to “remember how he found himself outside, without a hat, a walking stick or any money, or anything that he usually took when he went out; leaving his second breakfast half-finished and quite unwashed up…. running as fast as his furry feet could carry him down the path.”

Similarly, God believes in each of us and is drawing us out of our comfort zones and onto paths unknown. If we won’t go freely, He may just sweep us out the door without a second thought, and like Bilbo, we will find ourselves on a great adventure.