Finding Neverland

Last week, I had to read The Wizard of Oz.  This week, I had to read Peter Pan.  Although there were many obvious similarities with their movie versions, the books had all kinds of details that the movies left out.  There is a lot more violence.  Both Dorothy and Peter are supposed to be significantly younger.  The antagonists are much more evil.  But through it all, I really hated how I couldn't get the movie versions out of my head while reading the stories.

One thing that surprised me though about Peter Pan was how sad and profound the story was.  The lost boys long for a motherly figure which would eventually become Wendy.  Wendy and Tinker Bell long for Peter's love.  Self-centered Peter longs for his own mother that he can't remember yet refuses to give in to a life of maturity and responsibility.  The mature and responsible characters of the book, Mr. and Mrs. Darling, long for their children to come back home.  Even the evil Hook longs to put an end to Peter's cockiness.  Everyone is longing for something...

But no one seems to be able to find a solution to their heart's desire.  Even Neverland doesn't suffice Peter who continues to come back to Wendy's bedroom over the generations.  I felt a lingering melancholy while reading this book intended for children.  There was no resolution.  The ending was not a happy one.

But as Keller points out in his sermon series on Esther, none of the characters are longing for the wrong things.  They're all desiring good things but looking for them in the wrong places.  There is nothing wrong with seeking things like acceptance, comfort, beauty, and honor.  But there is something horribly wrong when we seek these things outside of Christ.

Peter Pan, you need Jesus just like the rest of us.

Thought of the Day:  Friday
Song of the Day:  Norah Jones-Don't Know Why