Anyone who has read the Lord of the Rings Trilogy has to have a certain fondness for the amazing wizard that always seemed to have the right answer. Gandalf is one of the Istari, a group of powerful being sent from the Valar to help the humans in their defeat of the evil ones.

Much of the power of the Istari came from their ethereal connection to the Valar, but over time many became bound to their bodies and circumstances of men. Gandalf was one of the very few that remained true to the mission right up until the defeat of Sauron.

The Istari were supposed to be advisors and helpers, but not directly use their power to influence the outcome of the war. Gandalf helped out bit, but never once did he lead the group. I always thought that was interesting. The wizard took on a Balrog, but always let Aragorn lead the group. It wasn't until reading the Similarian that I realized this is exactly what he was supposed to do.

The other Istari used their powers for the own greed and while the became powerful in the world of men, they lost their connection to the Valar and eventually succumbed to death and defeat. Gandalf knew the time of elves, magic and the Istari were over and went with the elves back to the Valar. Middle Earth was never the same after the departure of the elves and the Istari, but that's a story for another time.