Alternate History

What is the importance of Bilbo's judgment of Frodo's character which lead to his adoption? How does this reflect the truth about the the difference between what kind of person some one is meant to be and and what kind of person they can be?
If Bilbo had not adopted Frodo he most likely would not have been in position to be a ring bearer. Although this does not mean that any quest to destroy the ring would have failed, it does change the events of the task. Or does it? What is the the role of providence here that we can see as presented by Tolkien? We must keep in mind at all times that the writings of Tolkien, especially those that deal with Middle Earth, are an insight into his understanding of how the universe works on both the physical and the spiritual planes; or, to borrow from the Nicene Creed, "all things seen and unseen." Keeping this in mind gives us a "roadmap" for proposing alternate historys in the story of Middle Earth. This is a worth while verture, for in doing so we may not only discern more about the mind of Tolkien, but even gain a perspective on life as we live it.