Adventures make you late for dinner!

Are you someone who craves adventure? Or are you someone who wishes they were more adventurous? Or do you dream of a life less ordinary, full of adventures beyond your imagination? Or are you quite content where you are in this life?

In the unexpected journey in J.R.R Tolkien’s ‘The Hobbit’, Bilbo Baggins was most definitely a reluctant adventurer at the start of the story. In the opening of both the book and the film, Gandalf the Wizard visits Bilbo, and in his conversation with the hobbit, Gandalf says this:

“I am looking for someone to share in an adventure that I am arranging, and it’s very difficult to find anyone”

And Bilbo’s response is quite amusing and sets out clearly his views on adventures! Bilbo says:

“I should think so – in these parts! We are plain quiet folk and have no use for adventures."

And Bilbo goes on to make this particularly funny remark about adventures:

“Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner!"

Adding “I can’t think what anybody sees in them.”

And to make his position quite clear, Bilbo concludes with:

“We don’t want any adventures here, thank you! You might try over The Hill or across The Water."

Leaving Gandalf the Grey in no doubt of Bilbo’s thoughts and feelings at that time about going on an adventure and clearly Bilbo was saying ‘No’ to sharing any adventure with Gandalf!

This reminds me of the Parable of the two sons told by Jesus in Mathew 21:28-32. Basically, the first son tells their dad he will not work in the vineyard and does, and the second son tells his dad he will work in the vineyard and does not. So, the first son did what his father asked, and the second son did not, in spite of their initial responses to the contrary.

Jesus likens the first son to tax collectors and prostitutes who accepted Jesus in spite of their initial disobedience and the second son is representative of the religious leaders who claimed obedience, but did not do the will of God.

The greatest adventure is making the decision to say yes to Jesus, and being obedient, and following Him - your life will never be the same!

It would have been a short story if Bilbo had not decided to go on his unexpected journey, and he would have missed out on an adventure that changed his life forever.

Is your life going to be a short story without going on an adventure with Jesus – ‘The Way, the Truth and the Life’? Or will you say ‘Yes’ to Jesus, and follow Him for an adventure of a lifetime – your life will never be the same!

To find out more about becoming a Christian, visit Say Yes to Jesus on the UCB Website.

Jo