What I learned from the Hobbit: part 2

Since January 1, I’ve read several posts about choosing a word for the year. When I first pondered this, no particular word came to mind. Then I saw on Facebook that someone had chosen the word “fearless” last year. When my eyes fell on that word, I knew that God wanted me to adopt it for 2013. Now I’ll admit, choosing a word like fearless scares me. I’m sure you get the irony. But, I also know that perfect love casts out all fear.

You may wonder what this has to do with the Hobbit. If you’ve read the book or watched the movie, then you know that Bilbo Baggins was not known for his bravery or his sense of adventure. Even so, he tucked away his fear and left his home behind because he wanted to help his new found friends. Thorin and the other dwarves doubted him more than once. But he reassured them. “ I know you doubt me, I know you always have, and you're right. I often think of Bag End. I miss my books, and my arm chair, and my garden. See, that's where I belong; that's home, and that's why I came cause you don't have one.. a home. It was taken from you, but I will help you take it back if I can.” Instead of hiding behind his fear, Baggins stepped up and put the hopes and dreams of his friends, before his own comfort.

J.R.R. Tolkien said that, “Living by faith includes the call to something greater than cowardly self-preservation.” As I venture into this new year, I ask God to give me courage and to take away my fear. God has set a task in front of me. He wants me to join him on this wild adventure of writing and publishing. Like Mr. Baggins, I need to get out of my own way and follow my heart.