Do hobbits celebrate Christmas?

I am unsure how much the Christmas season lends itself to confession, but I have a confession to make - I love J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy and everything that goes with it. I can’t help myself!

I have watched the Lord of the Rings movies more times than I would like to admit (same with the Hobbit), including the extended versions (well worth your time, by the way). I have, of course, also watched the cartoon version of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. They were a lot scarier when I was a little girl than when I watched them 20 years ago with my then future husband, but Gollum still creeped me out!

We now own a very nice slipcase-covered copy of the Hobbit, as well as the graphic novel, the trilogy, an atlas of Middle-earth and the Silmarillion - although, I must admit I have had a very difficult time of warming up to the Silmarillion. I will of course try again some day, just because.

And yet, after all this exposure to Middle-earth I can’t answer whether or not hobbits celebrate Christmas. I’m thinking the answer is no. While fellow lovers of Tolkien’s world all know how much hobbits like a good party, Tolkien was very good about avoiding religious holidays. Come to think of it, he was very good at avoiding religion in general or otherwise. Interesting…

"Bag End" from © cdca beckoetter on Fotolia 

Well, I guess that’s one of the many ways Tolkien and I differ – I think hobbits would love Christmas! At least, I know they would love the feasting and gift-giving parts. I also think it would be perfectly fun to gather with Bilbo and Frodo’s family and friends at Bag End. The food would be tasty and the conversation merry (and Merry might even be there, too). Of course, there would be singing and story telling after we eat, and I imagine a hobbit or two would find a nap in another room, just like we humans often do.

If Christmas was celebrated in Middle-earth, do you think there would be hobbit versions of Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus? Or elf versions (and I don’t mean Santa’s elves either)? Or dwarf versions? Dwarves kind of look like miniature versions of Santa Claus, maybe they would take to that legend easier than their need of a Savior; they are pretty independent and stubborn, but so are people for that matter.

I think the nativity would still be of Joseph, Mary and Jesus as humans, but perhaps there would be elves and dwarves among the wise men, hobbits among the shepherds and maybe even a hobbit singing while accompanied by the little drummer boy. Initially it may be difficult to differentiate between the boy and the hobbit, of course, but ultimately the furry feet would serve as the tell-tale sign of which is which.

No matter how real Middle-earth can seem to readers, we all know it’s still a fiction. However, Jesus is not and perhaps that’s part of the reason why Tolkien didn’t include His existence in his stories; it would just be too confusing.

I am no Tolkien, and I will never claim to be. Thankfully God didn’t make me to be either. It is my hope that I, too, can produce fantasy stories that capture a reader’s imagination, but I further hope that while the reader knows its fiction, she will find the courage to believe God isn’t. That somehow she will know God is real and His love for her is also real.

So I may have answered my own question, but if I’m wrong, feel free to let me know. Until then, and in the voice of the one without whom the ring of power could not have been destroyed, I will conclude this post assuming - Hobbitses doesn’t celebrate Christmas, does they, precious? No, my love, they doesn’t.

When words won't come

“In prayer, it is better to have a heart without words than words without heart.” -John Bunyan

  I don’t know how your writing process works for you, but when I sit down in front of my computer to begin writing I do it with the intention of being brilliant. Every time I fully expect something to magically pour from my fingertips onto the blank page. So often though, I sit there staring at the page with a blinking cursor silently beckoning me begin, but the words are stuck and they won’t come.

  Isn’t it wonderful that we don’t have to be brilliant word smiths to approach our heavenly Father in prayer? That he doesn’t require us to compose perfect verse before he will listen, or answer?

  The other day my heart was heavy with a situation that could alter a family’s lives permanently, a family I deeply care about. I was as blank as a new piece of paper. I had no words. Finally, I said, “Father, I don’t know how to pray.” Immediately, Philippians 4:6 came to mind: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” (NLT)

  Then I said, “But God, I don’t know what’s needed.” The last part of the verse came to me again, “…thank him for all he has done.” So I began thanking God for the things I knew he has done for them. It was really awkward at first; I was grasping for straws – he still has his hair, she still has her health - but I kept at it. Then it was as if someone turned the faucet handle from drip to pour. Words began rushing out of my mouth! Then I couldn’t speak at all because I was so overwhelmed as I recalled God’s goodness and grace, over and over again in their lives. Instead of words, tears flowed.

  After the second time I blew my nose and I found my voice again, it was Jesus’ model for prayer that I finally prayed: “…Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven…” (Matt. 6:10, NKJV)

  I found out later that day that their situation completely turned around. Enemy voices were quieted and favor was given where none was found before. God showed up again and proved himself faithful! Faithful to work all things together for good as his word says in Romans 8:28.

  So tomorrow when it’s time for me to work on my story again, I’m going to pray and thank God for all that he’s done for me. For the opportunity to write. For the story idea he’s given me. For the freedom to choose the genre with which to tell it. For salvation through Jesus Christ His Son. For the privilege to be called His child.  

  And if beautiful prose should appear on the page, I will thank him for that, too.