When we were in California on vacation it rained the whole first week. We joked that it probably rained more that week then it did the entire 2 years we lived in California. The first time there was a break in the rain, we went to the beach, even though it was really cold and cloudy. We weren’t going to miss it.
The break in the rain didn’t last too long though and we were sent running back to our nice cozy and warm beach house. We were so blessed by this home as it was stocked with toys, books and movies.We watched a lot of movies!
Tony and I found great humor in our movie selections at night. He would pick out a James Bond and I would grab a chick flick and we would head to separate TVs to enjoy our selection. Really funny.
One night I was enjoying some time alone with a bowl of ice cream and Sleepless in Seattle. Right smack dab in the middle of the movie I was reminded of my word for this year, CHILDLIKE. It was this quote that brought all sorts of emotions and thoughts flooding over me:
You have to grow up. You just can’t keep having all these adolescent fantasies about how exciting your life is going to be.
This is said by Meg Ryan’s character. She’s trying to talk sense into herself. Trying to convince herself she needs to stay with the man she is engaged to even though it doesn’t feel right and even though it feels like there is so much more her life wants to be.
How often do I find myself in this very battle as I try to squish my faith into a reasonable box? I want to believe in so much more. I want to believe life is epic, the journey is of grand proportions, God is romancing me, calling me into great adventures and yet, you have to grow up. Right?
I am thankful that thus far in my life, I have always been able to make it over the hump of these feelings. Much like Meg Ryan in Sleepless in Seattle, something always shakes me out of my “sensible thinking” and thrusts me back into fantasies and dreams. I hope this continues for the rest of my life. That I never lose the hope that propels me back into my childlike desires, my belief that there is so much more.
Last night I met a little two-year-old girl who kept telling me she was Wendy, from Peter Pan. She would giggle and throw her beautiful long blond hair over her shoulder in an innocent excitement and I really believe she thought she was Wendy, capable of floating off to Neverland at any given moment, hand-in-hand with Peter Pan.
A part of our heart always needs to believe we are capable of floating off to Neverland at any given moment. It is hope coming alive within us. It is believing the dreams inside us might actually be possible. It is that radical idea that maybe we don’t actually have to grow up. At least not entirely.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Mandy,
I love the thought of that little girl running around with a cape.. So magical. I think we all need to hang out with Peter Pan once in awhile :0)
Mandy ~ I love your posts. (I should let you know that more often.) I have always been a dreamer and want to believe that this life is “epic,” full of grand adventure that I can be a part of, though I feel like my dreams and that essence of me has been stifled of late. I have let life at this moment (young kids, keeping house, etc) get in the way, I guess. It’s gotten me down at times, but I try to remind myself that God has placed that part of me within me and He loves it.
You have beautiful thoughts and ideas ~ thanks for sharing them.
oops~she didn’t have a cape, it was her flowing hair! I guess I got caught up in the vision
Oh to have a childlike faith…. It’s something I strive for as well both. I was just talking with a friend about how I felt “too old” to accomplish some of the goals I had set for myself when I was younger. But after talking with her and thinking about the conversation, I have decided that you are never too old to set goals and dream big (unless your goal is to ride a unicycle across a tightrope at age 90!).
I love your post Mandy! …I am going to have to take some time and go back and read some from your pasts blogs!
you are a great writer! 
Thanks for sharing…really makes you think!!! 
Plus, I loved the part about “wendy!” 
Stephanie – cape, hair, it’s all the same. I’m just happy to have you caught up in the vision with me. Now that is something a writer loves to hear!
Kelsey – Thank you so much for your words of encouragement. I think it’s wonderful that you are a dreamer, and I’ll fight day and night for your heart to be able dream even though you are in the season of being a mom to little ones. Don’t. Stop. Dreaming.
Emily – No, you are not too old. I don’t even know what the goals are, but you are not too old. We are children of a God who helped Sarah give birth to a son when she was what, 99? He likes to show up when things look impossible. You can do whatever it is you are wanting to do. Maybe you’ll even be the first 90 year old to unicycle across a tightrope. HA!
Stephanie – Thank you. Wendy is a sweetheart.