I’ve been re-watching The Hobbit films. The sort of thing I can do now as I enjoy early ‘retirement’. I know the films don’t do justice to Tolkien’s book but I just love them!

And I particularly love the way Martin Freeman plays Bilbo Baggins on his epic journey of self-discovery, from the comic early scenes as the dwarves arrive at his home, to his becoming a fully-fledged and crucial member of the company of 14 on their mission to restore the dwarves to their ancient home in Mount Erebor.

Gandalf has chosen Bilbo for a key role but Bilbo has no idea. Gandalf visits him at his home in the Shire, and laments that he has become so stuffy, so dull, so caught up in his humdrum home comforts and so averse to adventure. Gandalf cannot reconcile the Bilbo he knew as a child with this adult who is preoccupied with his dinners and his fireside. The young Bilbo went on long hikes, itching to see life beyond the borders of the Shire; the adult Bilbo is frightened of the world outside the Shire and is intent on staying safely inside. (Perhaps all of us grow more risk averse as we grow older.)

Gandalf, of course, knows there is much more to Bilbo Baggins. Not only has he known Bilbo from his youth, but he knows his genes. Bilbo focuses on his Baggins forebears as examples of his safe way of life, but Gandalf points out that Bilbo is also a Took (through his mother) and the Tooks were famed for their exploits and adventures.

Tolkien’s story is a fantasy, but of course it’s full of insight into real life – on the big scale in the playing out of the battle between good and evil, and in the challenges and decisions facing every individual involved.

I found Bilbo’s predicament strangely moving. That may be because I face similar issues! Having recently retired early, I have great opportunities for adventure. But I feel the pull of playing safe and doing very little. And of our new wood-burning stove. And of food and cooking. And I am content with my own company! Oh dear …

Actually, like Bilbo I have also been invited on a journey. In my case by Sudanese friends to northern Uganda and perhaps into South Sudan, where my wife Janet and I met and spent several years. When we were young and adventurous!  So possibly next year …

The dwarves are a riotous lot, rough, presumptuous, rude, full of banter and fun. They bring chaos to Bilbo’s nicely ordered life, and ravage his well-stocked larder. Their appetite for food is matched by their appetite for life. Gandalf and the party of dwarves invite Bilbo to join their mission, but he will not sign up. They stay the night, and when Bilbo awakes, they are gone and the house is once more quiet but suddenly very empty. Something clicks and Bilbo senses what he is missing. He quickly gathers a few things and runs after them to share the adventure.

The dwarves are not the sort of company Bilbo would naturally seek out – quite the opposite. The experiences ahead will test Bilbo and bring out the best in him, and the part he plays will be crucial to everyone else. Again and again, he will have the choice to abandon the risky adventure and return home but he keeps choosing to press on and not turn back.

There are many stories and a lot of teaching that involve journeys in the Bible, but the thought that comes to my mind in relation to the above is about Jesus’ promise to give us fullness of life. He is recorded in John’s gospel as saying “I came that they might have life and have it abundantly” (10:10).  The abundant life which Jesus offers is not an easy untroubled life, but one which embraces the whole of life with its joys and sorrows, its hardships and comforts.

John’s Gospel later records Jesus telling his disciples that God will come to them as the Holy Spirit, the ‘Parakletos’ (14:25) to help them. Literally the Greek ‘Parakletos’ means the one ‘called alongside’. God will be alongside them on their life’s journey – their helper, their guide. A bit like Jesus on the Emmaus road: walking with his followers, sometimes seen and heard, but usually only in hindsight (which is never there when you need it).

Abundant life for Bilbo was not, at that time at least, to be found by his fireside but by responding to the call to risky adventure. We too are encouraged to step out of our comfort zone into reliance on God. We will discover hidden depths in ourselves and a deeper experience of ‘God with us’.

We may, like Bilbo, need to learn to see the good in people we would not normally choose as companions! Like Bilbo, we will probably find fellowship with a rag bag of fellow travellers who will be brave and foolish and prejudiced, but who will learn with us and come to love us as we love them. It starts with opening the door of our hearts, and waiting to see who or what God sends our way.

What little or great adventure might God be calling you or me to next?