Tolkíenism Saturday Post

What’s it all about?

#TolkienismSaturday

“Where did you go to, if I may ask?' said Thorin to Gandalf as they rode along.

‘To look ahead,' said he.

‘And what brought you back in the nick of time?'

‘Looking behind,' said he.

Ever busy, Gandalf sees much of the greater picture of the events that are shaping up. In the Hobbit, everyone is concerned with their own business. Dwarves want their stuff. Bilbo reluctantly wants an adventure, or alternating to wanting hos hobbit-home. Elves wanna drink and sing. Spiders want food. Men want trade. Goblins wanna burn. And so on.

But it’s clear from this passage, and from much of the Lord of the Rings that Gandalf values information, and uses it in a timely manner via action to affect events.

In other words… he asking of every small item and event… “what’s it all about?”

Because, at least in The Hobbit, he suspects that dark forces are indeed up to something nit good. That evil is awake and calling the ring. That allies have either flipped, or are fast asleep.

One might have called Gandalf a ‘Conspiracy Theorist’ during the events of the Hobbit.

But the coming events that follow prove that his suspicions were right and that evil never sleeps. In fact it gathers, works, endlessly, covets, and has many busy plans for your destruction while you are busy with what occupies you in the here and now now of your adventure: survival, gold, second breakfast, song and wine (entertainment), goblin fire (meaningless tribalism).

But… even now the Dark Lord gathers his forces in our time.

Are we looking forward, seeing what’s coming next (red pilled) and are we looking back to see what’s going on right now and where it’s all leading? And history too? Are we looking there to get a complete picture? Remembering that evil always rebrands and lies that this next Utopian Promise time it will be different. This time ever Evil will be called ‘good.’

We are Gandalf and all about us are hobbits and dwarves who want their hoard and home.

And it’s is we who must ask… what’s it all about.