BST's Blog

Last night Sheryl and I went to see Finding Neverland. I highly recommend it. It's tough to recover after seeing it, but it's worth it.

January 13th is my father's birthday. Typically, I try to do something to remember him on that day like go down to the inner city daycare (Wayne Reed center) and read to the kids, or try to cut snow flakes into crazy shapes, or write notes to friends--something that he would do. That helps me feel close to him. Yesterday I found myself at the end of the day and having done nothing really like that as in years past. The movie last night ended up being that thing. Sheryl and I both confessed later that we had to fight back the sobbing reflex while watching. It was wonderful.

My father was really Peter Pan in a lot of ways. He was the boy who never really grew up. He also helped others see how rigid "adulthood" could rob them of the fun of living. He taught people to "fly" by thinking of good things. He told stories about pirates, Indians, far away places, and imaginary creatures. I remember stories at bedtime about places where the trees dripped with taffy and carmeled apples, the grass was cotton candy, and the clouds were marshmallows. I remember stories about "Little Joe" who lived with his family in a hole in our garden (sort of like the "Borrowers". Of course there was the tragic day when my father was plowing the front garden and I realized he was plowing them up and ran out to stop him. He left a space where Joe's home supposedly was.) He was a man much like the author of Peter Pan. He made a difference in people's lives--especially children. He saw raw gifts in people and encouraged them to cultivate them. He was a great man.

However, just like the ticking clock inside the crocodile in the story of Peter Pan, it's a reminder that we are all being chased by the inevitable. We are but a blade of grass--here today and gone tomorrow. BUT--unlike those characters, our "Neverland" is real. We have an inheritance that cannot spoil or fade away. As Peter Pan said, "To die would be an awfully grand adventure!" It's true for us too. There is much work to be done here. There are dreams to instill. There are people to touch. There are lives waiting to be changed. There are crippled hearts waiting for the touch from the Master through our love. What an adventure we are on! To live is Christ. To die is gain. Both are incredible adventures when the Lord is with us.