Happy Birthday Bilbo

September 22, 11:54 AMFaith & Culture ExaminerDr. Bob Beltz

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Tolkien's original cover designs for the Trilogy

Today is September 22nd.  You might not get this till the 23rd – but trust me – it is the 22^nd.  Many of you have probably enjoyed The Lord of the Rings in one form or another.  If you have seen the movies, but have not read the books, treat yourself to a wonderful experience and pick up the trilogy.  Of course, if you haven’t read The Hobbit, you might want to start there.  Some of you might be thinking that these are books for kids, but let me assure you that like The Chronicles of Narnia, you will get plenty out of this reading assignment.

Even if you have read the books, it might have slipped your mind that September 22nd is a very important day for both Bilbo and Frodo Baggins.  It is the date of both of their birthdays.  On this day, in the year 3001 (Shire reckoning,) Bilbo held his infamous 111^th (or “eleventy-first”) birthday party.  It was Frodo’s (Bilbo’s adopted nephew and heir to his estate and adventures) - 33^rd.  For those who are not familiar with the books, it was this event that launched the story of the quest to destroy the Ring of Power and thus save Middle-earth from the Dark Lord, Sauron.

The Lord of the Rings trilogy is the work of the late J.R.R. Tolkien.  Tolkien was one of C.S. Lewis’ best friends, and like Lewis, a professor at Oxford University.   One day the two engaged in a discussion about how no one seemed to be writing the kinds of books they liked as children.   "Jack" (Lewis' nickname) suggested to "Tollers" (his nickname for Tolkien): “Supposing you write a thriller that is a time-journey... and I write one that is a space-journey.”  As a result of this conversation, in 1937, Lewis began working on what eventually became his space trilogy, and Tolkien started work on what would eventually become The Lord of the Rings.  I find it interesting that Lewis would later write all seven books of The Chronicles of Narnia  in seven years,  while in contrast, Tolkien started his epic saga of Middle-earth in 1937, and the first book was not published until1954!

For many years, The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia have been on my list of favorite books.  Frodo and Bilbo have been two of my favorite characters in all of literature.  I like Hobbits.  They are unlikely heroes.  Hobbits like to live quiet, peaceful lives, filled with good food, good drink, and good pipe-weed.  They wear bright clothes and no shoes (due to the excess of hair on their feet.)  Yet, of all the inhabitants of Tolkien's world, it is the hobbits that are called on to undertake a journey whose outcome will determine the fate of Middle-earth.  Shortly after Bilbo and Frodo's birthday party, we learn that the power of the Dark Lord is on the rise.  Middle-earth is in danger.  All Sauron needs to assure his conquest is the one ring of power.  It is a story of good vs. evil.  Not as overt as The Chronicles of Narnia, it is a story rooted in Tolkien’s deep Christian faith.  The Ring of Power must be destroyed.  It must be carried from the safety of The Shire and into the very heart of Mordor, the land of Sauron, the Dark Lord.  It must be cast into the fires of Mt. Doom, where it was first forged.  And it will take a hobbit to do it!

I have a hunch that Tolkien wrote a lot of himself into the characters of Bilbo and Frodo.  He liked living in the sheltered world of academia.  Along with Lewis, he liked sitting at the “Bird and the Baby” ( a pub in Oxford whose real name was “The Eagle and the Child”) and discussing literature while sipping a beer and smoking a pipe.  But as a Christian, he believed a war was being waged between good and evil, and that he needed to do his part.

A lot of us are a lot like Hobbits, I suppose.  I know I am.  I would like to retreat to a life of peace and prosperity.  I prefer parties and good food and drink to difficult adventures that require great courage and are undertaken at great risk.  I would like to pretend that all is well within "the Shire," and perhaps not even know that evil is on the rise and threatens our very survival.  But, if I’m going to be a “hobbit,” then I pray that God would give me the spark of courage and adventure that Frodo and Bilbo had.  I’d like to think that I could be a part of the “fellowship of the ring.”  I’d like to play a part, however small it might be, in fighting back the forces of darkness.

So, happy birthday Frodo and Bilbo.  Tonight, my wife and son and I are going to dinner in your honor.  And, I think I will pull my copies of the trilogy off the shelf, give them a dusting,  and take another trip to Middle-earth.  To any of you who might read this piece, I invite you to join me - in reading the books - not to dinner  :) .