The Emptying of Power
In a recent essay, I wrote about the idea of entire sanctification as the ability to be freed from power dynamics. I want to go into that in more detail in this essay. To do so, we will return to Middle-Earth and an encounter with Tom Bombadil. This is within a story in the series The Rings of Power. (TROP) There will be a few spoilers for season 2, especially from episode 8. I described the character of Tom Bombadil in the essay Bombadillo, and we get to see Bombadil on screen for the very first time in season 2 of TROP. When we get our first view of Tom, I may have cheered a bit like I did when Wolverine pulled that mask over his head in Deadpool and Wolverine. More nostalgic itches scratched this year. Bombadil does not have much screen time, but his time is crucial to the story.
Over the two seasons of TROP, we have seen the character known only as The Stranger. There have been many clues to his identity and most decided by the end of season one that he is Gandalf. However, the writers keep us guessing, even when he first encounters Tom Bombadil. Of course, that The Stranger does not know who he is himself helps to keep the suspense. The Stranger, accompanied by the Harfoots, Nori and Poopy, has ventured to the East to look for his staff. We learn his staff will help guide and control his magic. But he encounters a dark wizard and Nori and Poppy encounter Harfoots that have settled rather than wander. He asks Bombadil about his staff and where he might find things. But Bombadil’s advice is elusive and cryptic. Yet, The Stranger persists even as he is challenged by the dark wizard claiming to be his friend.
Full access for all on Wednesday Oct 23 8AM CDT
It is an encounter with the dark wizard that we come to the crux of my idea of sanctification as the release of power. In a climactic moment in the Harfoot settlement, the dark wizard invites The Stranger to join him and travel West to defeat Sauron and thus take control of Middle Earth. Like all temptations, there is a hint of possible good underneath the desires of the dark wizard, but The Stranger sees through to the desire for power. In a moment in which he could choose power and control, he rejects the offer to stand with his friends, the Harfoots. The dark wizard immediately tells him he will pay and casts a spell to bring down the rocks of the settlement. The Stranger must use his power to save the Harfoots, knowing that he might still destroy their homes. But he does whatever it takes to save them.
Once the dust settles and the sun rises, Nori and Poppy choose to lead the Harfoots to the West and their group of Harfoots which will mean forging a different path than the Stranger. In a poignant moment The Stranger mentions how he and Nori are very different creatures. Yet Nori, in the wisdom of Harfoots, states “not so different a’tall if you ask me.” She then sets out and leaves the Stranger alone. Amongst the rubble, he runs into a staff and picks it up and we have confirmation of a good wizard (The Harfoots thanked him as Grand Elf - cheesy, but it works). He ventures back to Tom Bombadil’s home. The show runners take some license here and borrow from Harry Potter by Tom telling The Stranger that the wizard does not find his staff, the staff finds the wizard. Nick Polk of TolkienPop! told me we could see that as the staff being given by Iluvatar, so I’ll go with it.
Before they talk about the staff, we get one of the most important exchanges of The Stranger. “It was all a test, wasn’t it? It was another one of your riddles. I was meant to choose friendship over power, I was meant to help them. I was meant to find this.” Then the staff discussion and Bombadil ends with, “Like his name.”
“Gandalf, that’s what they’re going to call me, isn’t it?” says the Stranger.
“Now, let the song begin.” says Bombadil
“Let us sing together.” - Gandalf and they begin singing the Bombadil song as arranged by Bear McCreary.
As that wonderful scene faded into the next, I could not help but hear the great hymn of the ancient Christian Church:
[!bible]
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death —
even death on a cross.
Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:5–11 - NRSVCE
Gandalf only came into his true name when he chose friendship over power. When he turned his back on the temptation of ruling in power. Tom Bombadil invites Gandalf into the beauty of recognizing that power is not something to be held or wielded in selfish means. Gandalf has chosen as he does throughout his interactions in Middle-Earth to empty himself of the desires to control in power. Instead, he lives into the beauty of strength in friendship.
“Now let the song begin
Let us sing together.”
https://open.substack.com/pub/tolkienpop