Lent with Niggle – Second Installment

Welcome again to Lent with Niggle. This is the second installment. Did you miss the first installment? No problem, here is the link:

Lent with Niggle – First Installment

You have not read the story yet? Again, no problem. Read it for free here:

J.R.R. Tolkien: Leaf by Niggle

As far as the story line goes, here is where we are at in this second week of Lent:

Niggle is a painter, and his most important painting is not done – yet. Instead of getting it finished when he feels the time for his (final) journey drawing nearer and nearer, he goes on a bike ride through the rain to accommodate his every needy neighbor Parish – and promptly falls sick. When he is finally strong enough to ‘totter’ into his painting shed and paint again, an ‘Inspector’ arrives. Pointing at Niggle’s giant canvas, he informs the painter that his canvas is now needed for roof repairs in the neighborhood – dry houses are much more important than art, of course. Niggle resists the notion, but a ‘Driver’ arrives shortly after the Inspector. He tells Niggle that his journey, the long-expected one, will begin – instantly.

We will hear more about the Driver and the journey next week. Today, we will consider the Inspector’s rather unfeeling, yet certainly true comment:

‘There now!’ said the Inspector.  ‘You’ll have to go; but it’s a bad way to start on your journey, leaving your jobs undone.  Still, we can at least make some use of this canvas now.’

‘Oh dear!’ said poor Niggle, beginning to weep.

~ J.R.R. Tolkien: Leaf by Niggle

When you go, how will the jobs be taken care of that you did not finish?  For Niggle, his beloved tree ends up in bits and pieces as shingles for his neighbor’s leaky roof.

Although for Tolkien unfinished jobs were also quite a literal problem, learning from Niggle’s experience is useful for spiritual jobs, if you will, as well.  Focus helps.  There are things to tackle.  It’s a bad way to start on your journey leaving your jobs undone.

Illustrations by Alan Lee