I discovered a new word I’ve added to my collection:
GRUNTLED
Yes, it’s the opposite of DISGRUNTLED (which, of course, means discontented, dissatisfied)…
All of us prefer to be GRUNTLED.
And, yet…based on the last two posts – – –
I’m convinced the Lord wants us to establish a Holy Disgruntlement within our souls so that we might experience more of the adventure He has planned for us on the PATH OF LIFE (lest we miss out entirely)…
Right about the time I discovered this new word (and was “gruntled to have found it”), I began re-reading the little book by JRR Tolkien, The Hobbit, as I prepare to video some of these old classics to the youngest grand-daughter when she’s ready for them.
As a reminder, the book chronicles the world of the well-to-do hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, highly respected within his community. Here is why Mr. Baggins was considered so respectable:
“…not only because the Bagginses had lived on The Hill for time out of mind, and not only because most of them were rich, but also because they never had any adventures or did anything unexpected: you could tell what a Baggins would say on any question without the bother of even asking him.”
In fact, Bilbo considered any adventure disturbingly uncomfortable, and preferred his same little routine about his comfortable Hobbit-home above all. Anything otherwise made him quite cross.
So, when Gandalf, the great wizard, came by one morning searching for someone to share an adventure, Bilbo closed the discussion quickly… “We don’t want any adventures here, thank you! You might try over The Hill or across The Water.” By this Bilbo meant the conversation was at an end (although it wasn’t, of course, or there would be no story)…
“You see, inside Bilbo ran Took blood from his mother’s side of the family across The Water. The Took’s were very different from the Bagginses, and every now and then one of the Took-clan would go off and have an adventure. Oh, they discreetly disappeared, and the family would hush it up; but the fact remained that the Tooks were not as respectable as the Bagginses, though they were undoubtedly richer.”
When the dwarves appeared on Bilbo’s doorstep the day after Gandalf stopped by, the music of the golden harp, the songs they sang, the conversation, the mystery and the love of beautiful things shared by the dwarves, began to move through Mr. Baggins…and…
“something Tookish woke up inside of him, and he wished to go and see the great mountains, and hear the pine-trees and waterfalls, and explore the caves and wear a sword instead of a walking stick…”
“Something Tookish woke up inside of him…”
SHOCKING!!!!!
With that the little hobbit’s adventures began…
Big. Bold. Daring. And….quite wild. Definitely nothing he would have experienced had he stayed in his hobbit-home in the side of the hill.
That “something Tookish” could be described as disgruntlement…that holy dissatisfaction for more of what the Lord has for His followers…a passionate pursuit of adventure and a life lived by faith.
It’s a pilgrimage where, from one minute to the next, we don’t know the twists and turns it may take, the dangers and the hardships that may be encountered, the sorrow and the grief that might be around the bend (as well as the joys, the spaces of rest and renewal, the laughter and the community forged)…
It is also a road where the heart is stirred, and adventure awaits, and a sword will lead the way – with every! single! step! heavenward!
