Chapter TWO
PRIDE GOETH BEFORE . . . A REALLY BAD DAY
(THORIN) part 1
Vital Stats:
Name: Thorin Oakenshield
Favorite Saying: Mine.
Home: Home? What home? I have no home! That creature stole my home! Vengeance!
Family: Family? What family? I have no family! That creature ate my family! Vengeance!
Height: Height? What height? I have no height! That creature stole my . . . oh, wait. I’m a dwarf. Never mind.
From the minute Thorin walks through Bilbo’s little round door, you know he’s in charge. He’s got the hood with the bling. He calls the shots at dinner (not poor, hungry Bilbo, who is the host). He’s the one introduced as “and especially Thorin.” Obviously, from the way he swaggers into the room, he thinks he deserves that special treatment.
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“’Let me introduce Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, and especially Thorin!’” They hung up two yellow hoods . . . and also a sky blue one with a long silver tassel. This last belonged to Thorin, an enormously important dwarf, who was not at all pleased at falling on Bilbo’s mat. Thorin was indeed very haughty, and said nothing about service.” (The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien, p. 23)
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Thorin Oakenshield, son and grandson of the great dwarves is heir to the Kingdom under the Mountain. He remembers the good old days—when gold and jewels flowed out of his father’s mines like an avalanche and men and elves both treated the dwarves with respect. He believes he deserves that respect, and wealth, back. He’s confident that his destiny shouldn’t be denied to him just because of a hot-headed dragon and thirteen bumbling associates. So, he takes his Ocean’s 14 party out for the biggest heist of their lives.
Too bad he has no real plan for the job. That’s a problem for less important people. They need to get him what he deserves. And when they actually do? Instead of a proper thank you, they get a two-year-old’s temper tantrum. Mine! It’s all mine! That’s mine, and that’s mine, and especially that—that’s mine, too. I’m King, guys. I make the rules now. Later, a very sorry Thorin admits, “If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” In those last words, Thorin finally realizes, too much pride can be a tough thing to die with. Too late, he wishes very much he hadn’t lived with it, either.
He’s not the only king ever to learn that lesson.
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On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests.
The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”
She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?”
“The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.
At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother (Mark 6:21-29).
Read part 2 of Chapter 2 tomorrow to find out what Herod and Thorin (and you?) have in common.Find it at: http://queenofperseverance.blogspot.com/
From December 1 through December 16, the John 3:16 Marketing Network is hosting a Christmas Book Launch and Hobbits, You, and the Spiritual World is a featured book. As part of the event, the Network is offering a $200 Amazon gift certificate to one lucky winner. For a chance to win, go to http://bit.ly/Christian_Books and enter the Rafflecopter (toward the bottom of the page). And be sure and pick up your Kindle version of Hobbits, You, and the Spiritual World at http://amzn.to/1eG7u1Y
About The Author
Jill's love for hobbits and elves comes from her time as a literature teacher and as a lifelong reader of great stories. She also loves an epic challenge and a chance for grace wherever they exist. Jill has a BA in English and Education and an MDiv in theology and is an ordained minister who has served as a worship, preaching, and discipleship pastor. She has published four books previously, as well as articles in national magazines such as FamilyFun, Discipleship Journal, and Today's Christian Woman.
Jill enjoys speaking on a variety of topics and has been very active on the MOPS circuit, as well as in junior high and high school classes. She enjoys speaking for retreats for all ages.
With three daughters, three cats, and (thankfully!) only one husband, she keeps busy otherwise with community theater, gardening, reading, scrapbooking, and traveling. Jill loves oceans, cats, chocolate, teenagers, her family, the Cubs, and God, not necessarily in that order.
Contacts:
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http://jill-theimperfectjourney.blogspot.com
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