The Burned Hand

Toward the end of Book Three of The Lord of the Rings (which comes 1/2 way through the second volume in the series, The Two Towers) Pippin is sorely tempted to steal a treasure which the wizard Saruman had lost and which the wizard Gandalf was guarding in his sleep. This treasure was a powerfully magic stone which in Pippin’s hands threatened to cause him great harm. It was for him and all his companions a terribly frightening time.

Later, Gandalf takes some time to explain to Pippin what the stone was and to alert him to the danger he had faced. Their conversation is revealing when pondered in the light of how we sin, and how God uses consequences and pain in growing us up.

‘I wish I had known all this before,’ said Pippin. ‘I had no notion of what I as doing.’

‘Oh yes, you had,’ said Gandalf. ‘You knew you were behaving wrongly and foolishly; and you told yourself so, though you did not listen. I did not tell you all this before, because it is only by musing on all that has happened that I have at last understood, even as we ride together. But if I had spoken sooner, it would not have lessened your desire, or made it easier to resist. On the contrary! No, the burned hand teaches best. After that advice about fire goes to the heart.’