GroshLink

The parents choice of when to end the bedtime Hobbit¹ reading for their children is important. The other evening I purposefully read a little longer to bring closure to Chapter 7: Queer Lodgings.

"Stick to the forest-track, keep your spirits up, hope for the best, and with a tremendous slice of luck you may come out one day and see the Long Marshes lying below you, and beyond them, high in the East, the Lonely Mountain where dear old Smaug lives, though I hope he is not expecting you." [said Gandalf]

"Very comforting you are to be sure," growled Thorin. "Good-bye! If you won't come with us, you had better get off without any more talk!"

"Good-bye then, and really good-bye!" said Gandalf, and he turned his horse and rode down into the West. But he could not resist the temptation to have the last word. Before he had passed quite out of hearing he turned and put his hands to his mouth and called to them. They heard his voice come faintly, "Good-bye! Be good, take care of yourselves -- and DON'T LEAVE THE PATH!"

Then he galloped away and was soon lost to sight. "O good-bye and go away!" groaned the dwarves, all the more angry because they were really filled with dismay at losing him. Now began the most dangerous part of the journey. They each shouldered the heavy pack and the water-skin which was their share, and turned from the light that lay on the lands outside and plunged into the forest (137-138).

But even though my little one seemed to have the energy, I neither began nor mentioned the title of Chapter 8, i.e., Flies and Spiders. With the desire for a good night's rest, I closed the book and waited for the next reading opportunity. Of course, the later part of Chapter 7 had much to debrief:

• Keeping promises
• Trust
• Sticking to the path.

As we enter the 2011-2012 academic year, let's take to heart Gandalf's departing words:

"Good-bye! Be good, take care of yourselves -- and DON'T LEAVE THE PATH!"

What a joy to know that the Father cares for His children as a hen for her chicks. Christ is with us. The Word and Spirit dwells in us. We are part of the Body of Christ.

Christ be with me
Christ before me
Christ behind me
Christ in me
Christ beneath me
Christ above me
Christ on my right
Christ on my left
Christ where I lie
Christ where I sit
Christ where I arise
Christ in the heart of every man
who thinks of me
Christ in the mouth of every man
who speaks of me
Christ in every eye that sees me
Christ in every ear that hears me
Salvation is of the Lord. -- From St. Patrick's Breastplate.

¹J.R.R. Tolkien. The Hobbit: or There and Back Again. Revised Edition. Ballantine Books. 1994)