The Scouring of the Shire

Don't you remember what Gandalf said as he parted with the Hobbits: he to see Bombadil and they to head home, " I am not coming to the Shire. It is no longer my place to set things to right. That is what you have been trained for, do you not yet understand?" Good job, Olorin. Cirdan trusting Narya to Gandalf was well done. The weilder of the secret flame of Anor kindled together brotherhood and trained the hobbits to take care of themselves after the Eldar departed.
As for the Gaffer: he symbolized(as did all hobbits). the humble and small folk, namely all of us, to be left alone to worry about those things important to us.