I recently rewatched the Lord of the Rings movies with my wife. We tend to read and/or watch this series filled with blatant Catholic themes every couple years within our marriage. With multiple Christ figures enduring temptations and trials in the face of oppressive evil, the series has always been an enjoyable and thought provoking experience, even if we now have to split the movies into two nights each due to our kid’s bedtime. Much has been said about LOTR, and much will continue to be said with some universities offering electives on the series alone, but I would like to focus on a particular scene in the movies that I think is often unnoticed.
In the final movie, The Return of the King, the end of the book differs slightly from the movie. While in the book after their adventure, the four returning Hobbits of Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin have to reclaim the Shire from an outside remaining evil, the movie ends with the Shire seemingly completely oblivious to the fact that a great danger had just been vanquished and the four hobbits returning home to somewhat anonymity. It was business as usual for Hobbiton at harvest time and it was a cheerful, peaceful people that the four returned to even if they are viewed differently for going on adventure.
Upon their return Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin find themselves at The Green Dragon, the local pub, to share a drink after their great adventure. They had spent thirteen months facing incredible dangers of great battles with men and orcs, staving off starvation in the wild while being hunted, and encountering unexpected new acquaintances who became both friend and foe. There were countless moments where they had no doubt dreamed of the peacefulness of the Shire and even The Green Dragon and its warm atmosphere. They had finally made it home even though at many points it had seemed impossible they could ever survive the War of the Ring.
Yet, there they sat at the table, in awkward silence with a beer in front of each, glancing at each other without really knowing how to act. In the background, an older hobbit was overjoyed at the size of the huge pumpkin that he was carrying, yet the four hobbits took little notice of this spectacle that may have been the object of fascination for their old selves. It is at this moment, the Hobbits realize that they have changed. They are different. The experiences of the last thirteen months had matured them, while they still retained their identity. They were home, but no longer quite fit in, and were not interested in the novelties that those around them were experiencing. They had experienced something greater, and could never go back to their former way of life completely even as it was business as usual for all of the other hobbits. They had to live in their world, but were of its vanities no longer.
This is the life of the Christian who not only encounters God, but recognizes what God has done from him/her in the story of salvation history. They realize that their life is not about them and that sainthood is the only logical path. If that person is truly serious about sainthood, they leave the good, simple life that they may have had to experience something greater. They give up comforts to experience hardships and trials, but in exchange receive a greater euphoria through brotherhood/sisterhood and victory in the face of imminent defeat. The way of the world that the Christian used to enjoy, is now boring, and in some cases repugnant. But God has revealed that there is a greater adventure, and to experience it is preparation for eternity with Him.
The moment of silence of our four hobbits breaks with Sam spotting Rosie Cotton across the bar. He had previously had a crush on her, but had not had the courage to do anything about it. Now with courage that comes from facing imminent doom and a swig of his ale, talking to Rosie seemed almost easy. As Sam leaves the table Frodo, Merry, and Pippin burst into laughter. The awkwardness had passed and acceptance of their new selves came in the form of their friend conquering a long held fear with ease. And the same occurs for the Christian. There can be a sadness that comes with realizing that we will never be able to experience the world in the same way, but God always gives a new path to reveal our growth and greater joys that we were unable to reach prior due to our fear and lack of dependence on Him.
This is the challenge of the Christian: to leave the comfortable life that the world has to offer to experience sainthood. As we walk along that journey, we will realize that we will leave many beloved things behind, but there will be greater gifts that God will give us. It is a simple matter of taking a leap of faith and trusting that God will form us into the person that He created us to be.
