Living in The Shire

Yes, I joined “The Hobbit” masses last weekend.

Early in the movie Gandalf is entering The Shire and stops to address Bilbo Baggins. “I am looking for someone to share in an adventure that I am arranging, and it’s very difficult to find anyone.”

Bilbo, who is still unaware of Gandalf’s true identity, says, “I should think so – in these parts! We are plain quiet folk and have no use for adventures. Nasty, disturbing, uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner! I can’t think what anybody sees in them.”

Bilbo starts looking through his mail, hoping that the old man will leave. But Gandalf continues leaning on his staff, gazing at Bilbo until Bilbo angrily exclaims, “Good morning! … We don’t want any adventures here, thank you! You might try over The Hill or across The Water.” By this he meant the conversation was at an end.” – J.R.R. Tolkien

The Shire is a wonderfully peaceful place. Friends and food in abundance. Green rolling hills and cozy homes in which to live out one’s life. Bilbo wants to stay in his comfortable world and avoid all that is nasty, disturbing or uncomfortable.Yet he remembers stories of Gandalf fighting dragons, goblins and giants and rescuing princesses. He accepts the challenge laid before him by Gandalf and finds himself not only uncomfortable, but putting his own life on the line for one of his traveling companions on their journey to fight an evil power that has stolen something precious.

In our daily lives we don’t see girls being dragged off to work the streets or locked into brothels. It seems far enough away that maybe it’s not as horrible as we hear. It would be easy to brush it off as someone else’s problem. After all, even the thought of some of the stories are enough to cause one to cringe.

I would love to spend the rest my days enjoying time with my husband, eating fine foods, hanging with friends and family and exploring the beauty around me, but after meeting girls that have been through the terror of brothels and reading daily about the plight of millions around the world, I find myself in the same boat as Bilbo – wanting a carefree life but understanding that while there are girls being stolen and sold against their will, I will accept the challenge to do what I can, in hopes of also rescuing at least one princess.

- Dawn