A couple of months ago, I got a small tattoo on my ankle. People often ask me what it means, and I usually respond with, “Well, do you want the short answer or the long answer?”
This is the long answer.
The mark is called the Burglar’s Mark, and it is the symbol that Gandalf places on Bilbo’s door in The Hobbit in order to indicate which house the dwarves are looking for.
There is so much meaning packed into these three little symbols for me. My dad bought me a copy of The Hobbit for my sixth birthday, and it was one of the first novels I ever read. This book sparked my love for reading and my appreciation for literature and all things nerdy. Tolkien has held a special place in my heart ever since.
But this mark holds even more significance in my life because of what it symbolizes.
It is a symbol of adventure, of leaving home behind, and of stepping out into the unknown.
This mark signified the start of Bilbo’s journey – a journey that became so much bigger than him or anything he ever expected.
Unlike in Peter Jackson’s film adaptation (in which Gandalf places the rune for “G” on the door), J.R.R. Tolkien depicts three dwarvish runes that make up the mark. These runes are described by Gloin, who tells Bilbo, “And I assure you there is a mark on the door—the usual one in the trade, or used to be. Burglar wants a good job, plenty of Excitement and reasonable Reward, that’s how it is usually read.”
Essentially, the mark consists of three dwarvish runes: 1) B for burglar, 2) D for danger, and 3) a diamond for treasure or reward.
1. Burglar
“Now is the time for our esteemed Mr. Baggins, who has proved himself a good companion on our long road, and a hobbit full of courage and resource far exceeding his size, and if I may say so possessed of good luck far exceeding the usual allowance—now is the time for him to perform the service for which he was included in our Company; now is the time for him to earn his Reward.” – Thorin Oakenshield
Bilbo was called to join the dwarves‘ company for a specific purpose. At first glance, he may not have seemed valuable, but it was his small size and light feet that made him perfectly cut out for the job.
It is easy to feel like you aren’t valuable in life – that there is someone more equipped than you who should go instead. But if there is one thing that Tolkien has taught us, it’s that it is the small deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. God has called me to the World Race, and he will call me to many more journeys in my lifetime. And he will equip me to show his love and glory each step of the way.
2. Danger
“It’s a dangerous business, walking out one’s front door” – Gandalf
When I tell people about the World Race, one of the first questions I frequently get asked is, “Isn’t that dangerous?”
Well…yes. Yes, it is.
But as Gandalf gently reminds us, the moment you step out the door, you are facing danger of some kind. We cannot allow fear to keep us tucked inside of our comfy little hobbit holes our whole lives. And while there may be dangers out there, a good friend once told me that the safest place you can be is in God’s will.
3. Reward
“I go now to the halls of waiting to sit beside my fathers, until the world is renewed. Since I leave now all gold and silver, and go where it is of little worth, I wish to part in friendship from you. . . If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” – Thorin Oakenshild
While Bilbo did return to Bag End with some gold and treasures, this was not his true reward. He learned that gold and silver are of little worth when we leave this world and that the truest rewards are the friendships and memories that we share with others.
But the biggest reward of the World Race is that lives will be radically transformed by God. That love will be shared. That the kingdom will grow. My reward is not here, but in Heaven, and my greatest desire is that others will share in this reward as a result of our ministry.
In just two weeks, I will be embarking on a new adventure, but the adventure will not stop there.
One of my trainers at training camp told us, “You are not embarking on the journey of a lifetime. You are taking the next step in a lifetime of journeys.”
I want to live a lifetime of journeys. And the burglar’s mark is a reminder that my whole life is a journey – a journey full of purpose, challenges, and rewards.
I am called, and there will be danger, but the reward is so much greater.
“The world is not in your books and maps, it’s out there.” – Gandalf
Financial update: thanks to everyone’s donations and support, I was able to raise $1,600 at my yard sale, and I have now met my next deadline of $11,000 early!
Thank you so much to those who have supported me, my team, and our ministry. Can’t wait to continue in this lifetime of journeys soon in Albania!
