These words that were spoken to Frodo from Bilbo in the book "The Hobbit" have been stuck in my head for the last couple hours as I was out driving around at 4:00 AM today because I couldn't sleep. I can't help but think about them and how true the first part of that sentence is. Especially in times like today with things like the swine flu, or mad cow disease, West Nile Virus, or whatever the disease of the month is. The media takes these things and completely blows them out of proportion, that is if they even exist (which sometimes I doubt). My point is, that yes going out your door every morning is dangerous, but what is the point of living if you do not take some risks? I believe that when Tolkien wrote this it was much more innocent in context than any diseases or being hit by a car or anything like that, but more so that just being willing to go out your door. You never know where life will take you. If you are not willing to take the risk, you may never find love, make mistakes and learn from them, have your heart broken, learn new things, go places you have never been before. Yes some of those things come with terrible burdens that may be hard to live with, but in the end you hopefully become a better man. Take Bilbo for example, before Gandalf came along he had never been outside of his little town "The Shire" but he took that step outside his door and outside of his town and had all kinds of adventures, fought dragons, came across The Ring, and had to deal with the burden that came with the ring.
The World is a scary place, especially today. There is no telling where you will go or what will happen to you every time you go outside but you must take that first step of faith or you will never experience anything. For only being 21 I have been through a lot of good experiences and plenty of bad ones. I know that I am more fortunate that a lot of kids my age who grew up in broken houses or with domestic violence but I have made my share of stupid mistakes and I try to learn something from every one of those. I have a long way to continue growing as a man and the only way that I can continue doing that is going out of my door every day and live my life.
-Danny
Bilbo lives!
ReplyDeleteGood Post!
ReplyDeleteI want you to know that your are not alone. Yes we have a Father in Heaven who is our ever present hope, but you are not alone in this life either. One of the biggest lessons I have learned and am learning still is to not go alone! Frodo didn't go alone! Many treasures are to be found in the council of the wise and much strength to be had from mightier men than we. God doesn't need any of us to be God but he chooses us to bring completion to His creation. It's all about choices. Choose not to go alone!