"He had no helm, and about his head was a linen band stained with blood; but his voice was loud and
strong. 'Forty-two, Master Legolas!' he cried. 'Alas! My axe is notched: the forty-second had an iron collar on his neck.
How is it with you?' 'You passed my score by one,' answered Legolas. 'But I do not grudge you the game, so glad am I to see
you on your legs!'”
Gimli: Short in Height, Tall in Stature
There is an order that I’m following here, but it is of my own design and does not follow natural
logic, nor the way the characters are introduced in The Lord of the Rings. Gimli is next on my list. Having touched on the
four hobbits of the Fellowship, I have chosen Gimli the dwarf, because, like the hobbits, his virtues are not immediately
seen. Also, I have chosen him because the virtues that are immediately seen are not those which make him special.
Gimli, son of Gloin, is introduced to us as a proud and prejudiced dwarf. Dwarves and elves were, at
that time, at odds with one another. Although strong and valiant in battle, Gimli begins the quest as somewhat of a snob,
not to mention a bigot. Yet, he is dedicated to the quest, for the sake of his people if not for any other reason. As time
passes we see in him a loyalty grow towards the others of the Fellowship. This loyalty rivals the loyalty he has for his own
people.
Gimli mourns the death of Balin in the Mines of Moria, although it was his suggestion that they take
that path. He really wanted to show off the glory of his people to the Fellowship. Instead he was met with death, destruction
and danger. Forced to leave the Mines of Moria, and do so without their leader, he must enter Lothlorien, which to him is
a place of imminent peril. Yet it is here that Gimli finds that elves aren’t as bad as he has been led to believe. He
meets the Lady Galadriel, whom he finds fairer than all things. When asked what gift he would ask of her, Gimli boldly asks
for a lock of her hair.
The relationship between Legalos the elf and Gimli the dwarf shifts to a friendship that exceeds that
of the Fellowship. They are rivals, but friendly ones. This is seen at Helms Deep, where they count the number among the enemy
each slays. It is a contest to see which of the two can better the other, but it is also a challenge to the other to do better.
Gimli’s valor isn’t in his mighty arms and legs, nor his steadfastness in the midst of
battle. His valor is in that loyalty and love that has grown because of his devotion to the quest. One of the important things
here is to realize this change came about at Lothlorien, and the meeting of Galadriel.
In the life we can all identify with prejudice, whether being prejudiced against, or having prejudice
rule our thoughts. Many of us have seen God work a miracle in us in overcoming some, if not most of these prejudices. It is
our contact with the “fellowship”, the people of God that helps do this for us, but more it is our dedication
to the task, the quest that God puts before us. The change that takes place is actually described in Acts chapter 2. For it
was there that 120 followers of Christ had gathered together in prayer, and in one accord, when God poured out His Holy Spirit
upon them. It is coming into contact with the Holy Spirit that changes our lives, gives us strength, and helps us see what
others cannot. Like Gimli, we all seem to think we have reason to be proud, but when we come to God we find that only He has
the right to be proud. Our own good deeds are only done with His strength in us.
Even Christians struggle with pride and prejudice. When we come to our Lothlorien, that place where
we meet the Holy Spirit, do the changes that began when we met Christ begin to really take shape and strength in us. For Galadriel
stands before us as a type, as a figure of the Holy Spirit of God. The Father is Judge, Creator, Provider and so much more.
He is head of His house. Jesus is the Son. The One to whom we must go to understand and have a relationship with the Father.
The Holy Spirit is that gentleness of God that allows us to feel His presence, to utilize His power in His way to His glory.
Like parents, many times it is the father who lays down the rules, but it is the love of the mother who draws the child into
keeping them. So also it is with God. So also it was with Gimli. May we, like Gimli, ask of God boldly for that which God
places upon our hearts. In so doing we may then receive the power to better show the love of God in our lives.
"This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I
command you." (John 15:12-14)
