Do Not Be Too Eager

In J.R.R. Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring, Frodo learns that the wretched creature Gollum has been following him through the dark, and he says what most of us would say: "What a pity that Bilbo did not stab that vile creature, when he had a chance!"

Gandalf's reply cuts to the bone: "Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement."

That single exchange reframes the entire trilogy. Because it was Bilbo's mercy toward Gollum — sparing a life that did not seem worth sparing — that ultimately made the destruction of the Ring possible. Grace, even when it looked foolish, turned out to be the hinge on which the whole world turned.

Tolkien, a devout Catholic, embedded this truth deliberately. He knew that grace never makes sense in the moment. It looks reckless. It feels unearned. The creature before you doesn't deserve another chance — and that is precisely the point.

The Apostle Paul understood this. "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Not after we cleaned ourselves up. Not once we proved our worth. While we were still the kind of creatures others might rather see destroyed.

The next time you are tempted to write someone off — including yourself — remember that the Almighty, who holds all life in His hands, chose mercy. And that mercy changed everything.