The Hobbit, a the prelude to the Lord of the Rings trilogy sets the stage for a large-scale fantasy story about good and evil, greed, power, sadness, suffering, friendship and adventure. But upon closer analysis The Hobbit aims at something much, much deeper.
If you’re job hunting, I hope this encourages you today.
In chapter 3 after a few misadventures the Hobbit and his party come upon a break from their troubles when they find shelter. Tolkien writes:
“Now it is a strange thing, but things that are good to have and days that are good to spend are soon told about, and not much to listen to; while things that are uncomfortable, palpitating, and even gruesome, may make a good tale, and take a deal of telling anyway. They stayed long in the good house, fourteen days at least, and they found it hard to leave. Bilbo would gladly have stopped there for ever and ever—even supposing a wish would have taken him right back to his hobbit hole without trouble. Yet there is little to tell about their stay.”
Do you see there is nothing interesting or worth talking about, or even remembering with your feet kicked up? Real stories, true stories worth telling happen in the wildness of a life well lived. Taking a risk is the first step toward living a life worth recounting because it requires sacrifice, endurance, pain and if we’re being honest … suffering.
Today, can I encourage you to move forward in this turbulent market with confidence, putting your sword to the roots of fleeting pleasure and comforts? Lace up your boots and sharpen your sword! Take a risk today and start writing your own story.