Tag Archives: Bilbo

Bilbo, Gandalf, the Holy Spirit, and My Green Door

Every couple years I re-read The Hobbit for the course on Tolkien I teach. This year, I once again am grateful that Tolkien made Bilbo fifty when he began his great adventure. We are more accustomed to the adventures of … Continue reading

Posted in On Faith, Tolkien | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Ordinary Virtues in Ordinary Places

Many have written eloquently about how Tolkien celebrates the triumph of ordinary virtues over extraordinary evil. Indeed, this explains why hobbits are at the center of his tales. Their loyalty, perseverance, pity, sense of duty and humble tastes are what … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, Tolkien | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

What You Asked For

The beginning of The Hobbit is a joy. It is more of a delight now than when I first read it fifty years ago. I may not have a snug hobbit hole, but today I am comfortable. I have lived … Continue reading

Posted in On Faith, Tolkien | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

True Grit

Today we think of duty as dull, so it may surprise us that duty plays such an important role in the high adventure of Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. It is, in fact, the hobbits’ commitment … Continue reading

Posted in Tolkien | Tagged , , | Leave a comment