Dangerous and Joyful
August Arts and Culture, Household Happenings, and the Joyful and Ferocious Warrior
Welcome to this month’s issue of Notes from the Fray! You’ll see the usual sections this month, along with an essay on joy, mirth, and ferocity.
Enjoy!
Arts and Culture
A short section in which I describe the movies, books, etc. with which I engaged over the past month. This month, it’s just books.
Books
Well, this past month has been a somewhat dry month for my reading. That said, here’s what I have.
The Return of the King, by J.R.R. Tolkien - I finished the main portion of this book this month, although I’m still working my way through the appendices. “The Scouring of the Shire,” was a particularly interesting section. It’s one I’ve heard several people talk about since having read it myself, so I was paying special attention as I reached that point. This chapter also influenced this month’s main essay, as you can see below.
The Bullet Journal Method, by Ryder Carrol - This has been interesting to read. A Bullet Journal is a way of keeping track of tasks, events, and information, in addition to more standard notes and lists. I’ve heard about this method in various places in the last 6 years or so, most notably from a teacher and dean I respected at the bible college I attended. I’ve been struggling to manage my responsibilities in a way with which I’m satisfied, so I decided to give this a shot. So far, it’s been helpful. I may write on it more if I find it helps significantly.
Household Happenings
We spent the majority of this month with my wife’s family in Wahington State. We had a wonderful visit and enjoyed the time to catch our breath after moving but before plunging fully into the fray of finding a house, starting work, and getting into a routine in Tennessee.
Between the views of Mount Ranier on a few clear days and the beautiful drive to Ocean Shores, we were able to drink deeply of the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. We were also there just at the right time for berry picking, which my kids enjoyed and which made for some delicious desserts, as well. Our lengthy visit allowed plenty of time to see everyone on that side of the family without feeling rushed and, throughout the visit, we had many good conversations and made plenty of memories.
We were able to visit some old haunts from when my wife and I lived there just after we were married, and we were also reminded of the blessings of living in more conservative areas. We’re thankful for the places God has taken us and look forward to His future blessing on and provision for our family.
Of Joy, Mirth, and Ferocity
In J.R.R. Tolkien’s book, The Return of the King, near the end of the story, he has some hobbits (Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin) return to the Shire to find it much changed and not for the better. In fact, they’re quite shocked at what they discover. The Shire has become a bureaucratic mess, with rules for everything and rascally men scaring the hobbits into submission. But Tolkien shows that, despite the many adventures of the four hobbits, they’ve not forgotten the value of a peaceful home, with a fire in the hearth and plenty of good food and drink to enjoy.
This lesson, although overlooked by some, is perhaps the most important lesson Tolkien’s story teaches the reader. We like to get caught up in the grand adventure to a serpent’s lair, going there and slaying the dragon; but we often forget that the journey back again is often even more important. The adventurer who forgets the value of his home, the joyful life he’s fighting to protect, has become little more than a husk. The best warriors are those who remember the joy of home and family and a peaceful, working life because they know better than anyone the stakes of the battle and the responsibility they bear.
The Joyful Warrior
I’ve written about the merry warrior before, specifically referencing Tom Bombadil. This time, I’d like to focus on a similar topic but a different aspect of it. There are two sides to this coin of joyfully making war, and I think that Tolkien’s chapter titled, “The Scouring of the Shire,” includes some of the best examples of this type of character, the type of character we should all strive to become.
Joyful Resistance
First, you have the hobbits returning to the Shire to find the road blocked by a large gate. They manage to get inside and find that there are nothing but rules posted everywhere. Although they end up getting arrested, it’s not without some fun as they make it clear who’s really making decisions.
After one of the chief Shirrifs has attempted to inform Frodo and his friends of their arrest and the reasons for it (and Sam’s further insulting the Chief and the other shirrifs), this chief Shirrif says,
‘There now, mister, that’ll do. It’s the Chief’s orders that you’re to come along quiet. We’re going to take you to Bywater and hand you over to the Chief’s Men; and when he deals with your case you can have your say. But if you don’t want to stay in the Lockholes any longer than you need, I should cut the say short, if I was you.’
To the discomfiture of the Shirrifs, Frodo and his companions all roared with laughter. ‘Don’t be absurd!’ said Frodo. ‘I am going where I please, and in my own time. I happen to be going to Bag End on business, but if you insist on going too, well that is your affair.’
‘Very well, Mr. Baggins,’ said the leader, pushing the barrier aside. ‘But don’t forget I’ve arrested you."‘
‘I won’t,’ said Frodo. ‘Never. But I may forgive you…’1
The light-hearted nature of the hobbits in the face of an authority taking itself much too seriously is a good example of the joy of a warrior in the face of adversity. On the one hand, the hobbits knew they were fully capable of overthrowing these Shirrifs. On the other, the wound inflicted by the organizing power (later revealed to be Saruman), is a real wound. The hobbits are not joyful because they’re comfortable; they’re joyful because they know the value of what they’re fighting for. They’ve been outside the Shire and seen what the world is like when good rulers are absent. Now, they want to use their new skills and perspective to protect and cultivate the type of life they had before their journey.
Forceful Resistance
This love of joy and peace, however, does not prevent them from becoming stern at times. Pippin, for example, becomes forceful with some of the rascals trying to scare the four companions into submission. After one of these men threatens Frodo, Tolkien writes this exchange. Frodo says,
‘Much has happened since you left the South. Your day is over, and all other ruffians’. The Dark Tower has fallen, and there is a King in Gondor. And Isengard has been destroyed, and your precious master is a beggar in the wilderness. I passed him on the road. The King’s messenger will ride up the Greenway now, not bullies from Isengard.’2
The rascal replies to Frodo and concludes:
He snapped his fingers in Frodo’s face - ‘King’s messengers! That for them! When I see one, I’ll take notice, perhaps.’
This was too much for Pippin…He cast back his cloak, flashed out his sword, and the silver and sable of Gondor gleamed on him as he rode forward.
‘I am a messenger of the King,’ he said. ‘You are speaking to the King’s friend, and one of the most renowned in all the lands of the West. You are a ruffian and a fool. Down on your knees in the road and ask pardon, or I will set this troll’s bane in you!’3
This is the other side of the joyful warrior’s mentality: being willing to fight and defend those to whom you are bound in loyalty (in Pippin’s case, the King and Frodo). This fierceness comes as a result of both the hardship Pippin faced in his journeys and his love for the things these ruffians are destroying: the trees and homes in Hobbiton, the peaceful lives of the Shire-folk, and the freedom the hobbits once enjoyed.
We Need Both
Listening to this episode of the King’s Hall podcast, I was reminded that both of these qualities are necessary for a father, especially. The men on that podcast made what I believe to be the most important point in all of this, which is that our fierceness needs to be rooted in joy. In Jesus, we see God’s character (see Hebrews 1:2-4). We see his fierceness with the Pharisees and other religious leaders in the gospels contrasted with his gentle, but firm, correction of His people who have been led astray. Eric Conn, in that podcast episode, drew out this distinction and compared it to how a man should be with his family: tender when facing inward toward them but fierce when facing an outside threat.
This is apparent in the four hobbits’ interactions in Tolkien’s story, as well. The four companions are much more compassionate and kind toward other hobbits, even those too afraid to speak up, than they are to the ruffians and scoundrels. Men should be able to be gentle, caring fathers toward their families, while also being able to become fierce warriors toward those that would destroy their household.
Gaining Ground through Joy
I don’t want us to lose sight of the fact that the factor in which all of this ferocity is rooted is joy. This joy comes from obedience to God. As we obey Him by the power of His Spirit given to help us, we begin to see all of the ways in which He intends obedience to be a blessing. This obedience and blessing is outside of our circumstances and the reason that joy can be abundant in every situation.
This joy in our God-given purpose allows us to joyfully pour ourselves out for others, sowing joy in their hearts, as well. Then, we’re able to be fierce against threats to that blessing and joy because we understand the value of it. Our default disposition is that of joyful, godly mirth, yet always ready to defend that atmosphere for our family.
That atmosphere and disposition are how we gain ground. Have you ever wondered why tyrants are the biggest fussers? It seems to be because they can’t stand the idea that someone, somewhere might be disproving their ideas or showing how little they’re needed by having a good time regardless of their approval. A home full of joy, filled with the light of a warm fire on the hearth, delicious food on the table, warm drink in the family’s bellies, and joyful voices being raised in praise are all the bane of tyrants.
Joy gains the most ground in our war against the darkness because it shows the futility of the darkness’s resistance against the light. Our fighting must proceed out of a joyful heart and, when it does, the foundations of the kingdom of darkness tremble.
So go with your family to sing, eat, drink, and laugh with the joy of the Lord in your heart and your sword at the ready; and let fussy tyrants everywhere tremble at the sound of your mirth.
J.R.R. Tolkien. The Return of the King, (New York, New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1994), 978.
Ibid., 982
Ibid.