Joyful Ruins

Frodo: Before you came along, we Bagginses were very well thought of.

Gnadlaf: Indeed?

Frodo: Never had any adventures or did anything unexpected.

Gandalf: If you’re referring to the incident with the Dragon, I ws barely involved. All I did was give your uncle a little nudge out the door.

Frodo: Whatever you did, you’ve been officially labeled a disturber of the peace.

Though this conversation is between two fictional characters in a fictional world, I can’t help but think I could have a smiliar conversaton about my life with Jesus.

Before Jesus, we may live comfortable lives and go along with the status quo. We do not seek out growth, adventure, change, resilience (there are many exceptional people who don’t follow Jesus that do seek those out and I see you 😊).

So, absolutely, when we follow Jesus and continue to surrender parts of our life to Him, not only will we do unexpected things or go on adventures, but we will probably not be as well thought of.

Jesus takes our ordinary lives and calls us to go against the grain, to “stir up the waters” (yes a reference for you Chosen fans).

God is a disturber of the peace. He brings peace but it’s a disruptive peace. It is not the peace the world gives. So others will look at you with irritation, they will not like what you are changing or saying.

I love that Gandalf changed the Bagginses’ reputation and identity. They no longer had a label of medioctiry or laziness or apathy. They were notw adventureres, challengers, growers, movers and shakers. They were different and all because of Gandlaf.

If you know Jesus as your personal Savior, you have a different identity too. You are no longer pat of this world or meant to follow the crowds. God invites you into the unexpected adventures He has for you. They may not involve killing a dragon or throwing an evil ring into Mount Doom and saving the world, but the call to go against the grain is still extraordinary even if it looks like saying no to words of injustice, standing up for a friend, fighting the battle of temptations, you are an adventurer my friend.

All it takes is a nudge from Jesus and I have a feeling you’ll be out on an adventurre of your own.