The Fellowship
There’s good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it’s worth fighting for.
It’s hard to contain my excitement about my plans for the end of the month. Calgary Fan Expo will begin on the last weekend in April. This year’s guests have me really excited, as it’s a very Gen-X-friendly list.
What has me really excited is the four Hobbits from The Lord of the Rings will be there, as well as Gimli. I honestly can’t wait!
I will also be donning my newly designed Hobbit costume I bought last year and had custom pants made from someone who worked on costuming in The Hobbit.
But this isn’t just about meeting actors… it’s about what these characters meant to me.
Why Hobbits Matter
It’s like in the great stories, my Frodo. The ones that really mattered…
These stories were originally written with children in mind—Hobbits representing that sense of innocence and simplicity. But these stories wound up transcending the initial intention, and gained a lot of fans along the way. Some are diehard book lovers; others discovered the story through the films.
I first watched Lord of the Rings trilogy in theatres when each came out near Christmas every year. Then I read The Hobbit (as it was shorter). But my greatest triumph was reading the whole Lord of the Rings book. As someone who struggled with reading and keeping my attention on the words, that was a big deal. And I did this without the ADHD medication!
To me, Hobbits matter because they are just ordinary folk thrust into an adventure. They maintain their simplicity throughout their journey. It’s what made them so endearing—not only to the fans of the series, but also the other characters in Middle-Earth. They weren’t chosen because they were powerful. They were chosen because they kept going.
Home is Behind, the World Ahead…
I can’t carry it for you, but I can carry you.
Each of the four Hobbits represented certain things:
- Frodo – He had to carry the burden.
- Samwise – He represented loyalty.
- Merry & Pippin – They showed incredible growth.
All four characters wound up playing important roles in the journey. Frodo suffered so much and yet he kept going. Samwise was there alongside him for the whole journey, and helped him along the way. Pippin wound up trying to help a young Faramir deal with his difficult father. Merry assisted in the battle that claimed the Lord of the Nazgûl. Nothing would have been accomplished without these four small heroes.
Nobody Tosses a Dwarf
Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.
Of course I’m equally excited to see Gimli again. John Rhys-Davis was at Calgary Fan Expo last year as well, so I already had seen him before. It would be lovely to see him with the Hobbits and see how they interact with each other.
Gimli represented unexpected depth. He was loyal and a brave warrior. His friendship with Legolas was an interesting one. At times, he struggled to reconcile the past and his feelings of betrayal from the Elves. Yet he made a great friend in Legolas. There’s a lesson there—put your differences aside and see the person near you for who they truly are.
Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost
Despair is only for those who see the end beyond all doubt. We do not.
I have often had to face some difficult challenges. Many times it was difficult to get myself motivated to continue. But I kept going anyway. Even when I wanted to put things off.
Sometimes when the load I carry feels heavy, I think of the Hobbits. Look at what they had to endure? What they valued? What really mattered to them? That’s what really matters, in the end.
If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.
With them as inspiration, I gain resilience, emotional endurance, valuing kindness, and believing that small actions matter.
All’s Well That Ends Better
Having the chance to see the four Hobbits—and Gimli—in person is a huge deal for me. I’m excited to see their exclusive show. It will also mark the first time I wear my purple Hobbit costume that I created myself. It all begins on April 24th. I will be sure to write my experiences down in a special blog post once I’ve had some time to recover from the excitement of the weekend.
You Shall Not Pass!
Diana has often had moments where she doesn’t want me to move forward. Sometimes it feels like she’s playing the role of Gandalf.
I often think of her as a Hobbit as well. She’s a small creature, with incredible heart. She enjoys the simple pleasures of life. Her often quiet presence is enough to get me through the toughest journeys. Diana knows how to be a great emotional support as well. It’s almost like I have my own Samwise Gamgee alongside me on my journey through life.
Final Thought: The Journey is Worth Fighting For
Home is behind, the world ahead, and there are many paths to tread through shadows to the edge of night, until the stars are all alight.
There is good in this world—and it’s always worth fighting for. To me, an epic journey through Middle-Earth has taught me how to be resilient in the face of many difficulties. The four Hobbits remind me that you don’t have to be the strongest to be the hero. You just have to keep going.
Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.
Who was your favourite Hobbit? Mine was Samwise Gamgee. Tell me about what this book or movie series meant to you in the comments below. Let’s start a conversation.