Wisdom from Wizards

Need a good source of entertainment? Go see The Hobbit.

Need a little adventure in your life? Go see The Hobbit.

Need a break from studying? Go see The Hobbit.

Need to get your mind off something? Go see The Hobbit.

Need a cure for writer’s block? Go see The Hobbit.

(I’d read the book before you go watch the movie, but that’s just because I love to read and get all the extra details).

I’m not sure if you figured it out yet or not, but I went to see The Hobbit tonight ;) and it was awesome! I loved all three movies in the Lord of the Rings trilogy (during a snow day a couple of years ago, my friends and I watched them all in a row) so I was really excited when I heard Peter Jackson was doing this one, too.

Luckily it’s been about 10 years since I read the book, so I had forgotten most of the storyline. I knew the very rough outline, but I could have gotten that much simply by watching the previews. And that’s the way I like it! When the Harry Potter movies were coming out, I used to reread the book right before I saw the movie, and it was the worst mistake I could have made! Apparently I thought it would be a good idea to be aware of all they have to leave out in the interest of time…well, let’s just say, it wasn’t. I’d walk out of the movies angry because they didn’t put this in or they didn’t put that in. Dumb dumb dumb. And I almost made the same mistake this time! Luckily, I recalled the anger that was sure to flare up just in time and stopped myself from experiencing it for the 8^th time.

Anyway, on to the point of this post (as if there is one).

During one of the scenes, Gandalf is talking to Galadriel (don’t worry, I’m not giving anything away) and he says:

“Saruman believes it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.”

As soon as he said it, I wanted to write it down because I knew I’d never remember it once the movie was over. I can’t even remember the responsorial psalm after the first verse is read, so me keeping that quote in my head for 2.5 hours was not going to happen. I’m surprised I even remembered who the conversation took place with! Luckily the internet helped me out with the rest ;)

I guess I just really love the message in those simple words. We don’t need to be rich or powerful to do good. We don’t need to have armies standing beside us in order to make a difference. We don’t need to be the best or the fastest or the biggest or the brightest or the strongest to have an effect on someone. We just need to be ourselves. Because God has endowed each of us with a gift, a piece of Himself, that will allow us to make a difference. We all have some characteristic within ourselves that will help us fulfill whatever plan God has for us each and every day. Sure we can’t all be the next Mother Teresa, but we’re not supposed to be (just ask Danielle Rose). And there’s so much we can do without simply copying her beautiful ways. We can take the time to smile at someone as we pass them on the sidewalk. We can volunteer somewhere. We can offer to babysit for a family at church. We can put something into the second collection on Sunday. We can bake cookies for a friend. We can send someone a text to say we care about them. We can hold the door open for the person behind us. We can recycle. We can donate our old clothes and toys and books. We can spread joy instead of sorrow. We can smile more and frown less. We can give more and take less. We can be kind. We can be loving.   

What do you think? How can we be ordinary folk keeping the darkness at bay?