By Small and Simple Things

Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins, image found here

During the holidays we got to see a couple of movies I’d been looking forward to. One was The Hobbit, a story I’ve loved, and loved sharing with my kids, for many years. It was a little disconcerting that this single novel, shorter than any of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, and much lighter weight, would need three three-hour movies to cover it. Nevertheless, I like being in that world, and seeing it. As my son Political Sphere says, “It’s a great travel ad for New Zealand.” Maybe so, but there were some moments in it that got me thinking about the important things.

It started with the beginning:

In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.

I relate quite a lot to these beloved hobbits. I like comfort. I like food (six times a day, if I’m up enough hours). I am known to say that adventure is a euphemism for hardship, and while I like the occasional outing or travel, any adventure requires a lot of preparation and recovery time. I like my own bed, my own kitchen, and my books and music. I prefer not being too cold or too hot or blown about by too much wind. (Full disclosure: I am sized more like a tall elf than a Halfling.)

Why would Gandalf choose such a person as Bilbo Baggins to join in on the important quest? He gives a little explanation to the Elf Queen Galadriel:

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

I take heart in that, being Hobbit-like myself. I have thought about what I do with this blog. It is a little thing, a small effort to explain the formula for what brings thriving civilization, prosperity, and freedom. I can see how, if millions of people thought good thoughts concerning how we should bring about these fortunate ends, that could lead in a good direction (northward on the Spherical Model). Better yet if such thoughts lead people to live in ways that will “keep darkness at bay.” But I am not reaching millions.

I wonder at times if my mission is to say things in a way to lead others toward civilization, or simply to live such a life and be part of the critical mass. Maybe both. As long as I think the writing helps—even if it helps mainly me to get thoughts straight—I’ll keep writing. As for living it—I am predictable, like many hobbits. I will keep trying to do my share of small acts of kindness and love, mostly in my own home, with my own family, and in my relatively small circle of community. If that is not enough, then I will need the intervention of a Gandalf to sign me up for whatever is needed, whatever is possible that I can’t yet envision.

The title of today’s post comes from a scripture verse related to keeping records, to writing things down, when the purpose isn’t yet known:

By small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.—Alma 37:6, Book of Mormon

On Saturday I saw a Facebook status by writer Andrew Klavan: “2013: the year conservatives begin to win the culture war.” I like the optimism of that. I also recognize the disappointment after this past year, when I thought so many things were well said, so many things put into perspective so anyone could see the truth, and yet the country’s direction went southward. So I hope he is right with this optimistic prediction. May this be the year we find ways to convince any who are capable of seeing truth that there is a known way to freedom, prosperity, and thriving civilization.