Finding Neverland

I just finished watching Finding Neverland (the story behind playwright J.M. Barrie's creation of "Peter Pan") and I am amazed by how much I loved it. The amazement is due to the fact that I normally am not much of a fan of this type of movie. And, no, it wasn't Johnny Depp's brilliant performance that won me over (though this man IS a master craftsman). Instead it was the theme: how can a person find Neverland?

For Barrie (Depp), Neverland is the place of fairies and fantasies, where no one grows old. Idolizing adolescence, Barrie posited that such a place was accessible by children because children had been untainted by disbelief -- children could still believe in fairies.

Now I know that I am stretching this a bit far (or maybe I'm bang on here) but doesn't Jesus argue the same thing when he says "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3)? It can be argued that Jesus is talking here about humility, but if you couple this with the next chapter, maybe he sees children as possessing a unique ability to enter Neverland (uh, I mean, "heaven"). "Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs" (Matthew 19:14). So, I wondered as I watched this film: have I lost my ability to believe? Now don't get me wrong. I "believe" our creeds, and I "believe" the historical, apostolic doctrines of our church (at least, I hope I do). But, have I lost my child-like ability to BELIEVE in such amazing possibilities like heaven? Or do I live too much in the rational and concrete? Do I allow myself to be swept up in a land I cannot see -- a land of God and goodness and truth and beauty and joy? Or do I spend my days pinned down to the "realities" of my bank account and my endless "grown-up" to-do list?

Lord, I long for my childhood eyes again. Lord, I long to believe. Lord, just empower me a little bit of pixie dust (hmmm, there is an interesting description for Pentecost).

Do you agree? Shall we go together? Second star to the right, and then straight on til morning!