Listening to his analysis of Leaf by Niggle I had my preconceptions overturned. Niggle is an amateur painter, trying to finish a huge work on a large canvas. He is not a particularly good painter although he does manage to capture well the essence of an individual leaf (hence the title of the story). An Inspector of Houses calls to say that his neighbour's house is in a dangerous state of repair and suggests that it is his duty to use the canvas to patch the hole in the roof. Niggle is horrified - "My picture!" - but the Inspector replies, "I dare say it is, but houses come first. That is the law."
My first reaction to this was to take Niggle's side. How dare this bureaucratic Philistine consider using art as mere building material! But the later part of the story makes it clear that the Inspector was more right than he was wrong. Before this conversation is over Niggle has to go on his journey (which he was always aware of, but never found time to prepare for) and ends up in the workhouse doing odd jobs.
Leaf by Niggle has some strong allegorical elements. Clearly the journey symbolises death and equally clearly the workhouse represents the Catholic understanding of purgatory. It is the place where people who are due to go to heaven are 'purged' and made ready for that transition. The purging (or 'treatment' as it is called in the story) initially consists of Niggle undertaking carpentry jobs around the place, patching and mending the premises. In other words, he is making up for the things he should have done before he was forced on his journey.
"Houses come first" is not simply about buildings, but about the safety and welfare of one's neighbours. The law of the land was very clear about priorities. Niggle's desire to create something beautiful and meaningful was not a sufficient excuse for neglecting the practical needs of his neighbour. I am reminded of that scene in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade where Indy is awed to discover the resting place of a long dead knight. But when the deadly flames are fast approaching he doesn't hesitate for one second - he metaphorically casts aside all his archeological instincts, and literally casts aside the skeleton of the knight, so that he can use the upturned stone sarcophagus as a protection from fire. The preservation of life outweighs the preservation of precious artefacts. In a less dramatic way Niggle was supposed to give preference to his suffering neighbour over his own creative hopes.
This is fiction. Moving to the realm of non-fiction, the Bible tells us "Love your neighbour as yourself." This is the law. We have an obligation to those around us. Their welfare is our concern. Like Niggle I would love to be told not to worry about everyday work and allowed to get on with doing all the things I like to do. Such as listening to podcasts about Tolkien. I've often thought (and preached) that God wants us to live life to the full and to enjoy this wonderful world that he's given us. Which means that we should take time to appreciate creation, and even to engage in what Tolkien calls 'sub-creation' - bringing into being (through whatever medium we work best in) something new and beautiful which enhances the created order. Writing a blog would count (in a modest way) as an act of sub-creation in this sense. BUT. And it's an important 'but'. This should not be at the expense of caring for our neighbour.
In reflecting on this aspect of Leaf by Niggle, I have heard God reminding me of my own priorities. People first. Caring for my neighbour first. Being passionate about the well-being of those around me first. And creativity second.
And for those who haven't read the story, let me reassure you it does have a happy ending. Niggle ends up being creative in ways that he never imagined. And the picture he had to leave unfinished? Well, he gets chance to work on it in a quite different form and it becomes a great blessing to many people.
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