Growing up I remember watching various renditions of Peter Pan. First there was the Disney animated movie. Then came Hook with Robin Williams as Peter Pan and Dustin Hoffman as Captain Hook. Although each iteration a bit different, the plot is very much the same.

What many people don’t know is that the story of Peter Pan as we know it today was originally based off a 1904 play and a 1911 novel by J. M. Barrie titled Peter and Wendy. The story is about a mischievous yet innocent little boy (Peter Pan) who can fly and has many adventures on the island of Neverland that is inhabited by his Lost Boys, mermaids, fairies, Native Americans and pirates. In the story, Wendy and her brothers go to Neverland so that Wendy can be a mother figure to the Lost Boys and Peter Pan.

Afterwards, they find themselves in many adventures. However, these adventures turn out to be life threatening and dangerous. On one such occasion, Peter is gravely wounded by Captain Hook. Peter then views the possibility of death as “an awfully big adventure”.

In the end Wendy decides to return home with all the boys except Peter. He refuses because he’s afraid they will “catch him and make him a man.” Unfortunately the is the reality for many men today. They refuse to “grow-up” and face the responsibilities of the real world. In the process, they endanger the lives of their loved ones and themselves. This is referred to as the “Peter Pan Syndrome”.

FX3 Challenge:

Read:

Read and meditate on 1 Corinthians 13:11. What does this verse say to you?

Pray:

What area in your life you still acting childlike in and refusing to “grow-up”?

Meditate / Make It Real:

When will you leave Neverland behind and start taking responsibility of your life for yourself and others?