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Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. -- Hebrews 11:6

The recent movie Finding Neverland tells the story of the playwright J.M. Barrie and his creation of the children’s classic, Peter Pan. In one scene, Barrie (played by Johnny Depp) entertains three boys in the park with an imaginative story. He tells them how his dog Porthos really wants to be a bear. Peter, one of the young boys, refuses to be entertained with such notions.

Peter insists, "This is absurd. He's just a dog."

JM: "Just? Just a dog? Porthos, don't listen to him. Porthos dreams of being a bear and you want to dash those dreams by saying he's "just a dog?" (tsk tsk tsk) What a horrible candle- snuffing word. That's like saying, ‘he can't climb that mountain, he's just a man.’ Or, ‘that's not a diamond, it's just a rock.’ (whispers) Just."

Peter (defiantly): "Fine then, turn him into a bear. If you can."

JM: "With those eyes, my bonny lad, I'm afraid you'd never see it. However, with just a wee bit of imagination, I can turn around right now and see...the great bear, Porthos. Dance with me. (And he turns to the dog, with the dog's paws on his shoulders and he begins dancing with him. Then the scene changes to JM dancing with a bear, a very whimsical scene).

For thousands of years the word “just” has been used to reduce the imagination of faith. This one little candle- snuffing word, translated into the various languages of the world, has confined our vision to that which is seen. When used to limit the landscape around us, this uninspired word obstructs our view of God. It scales back the reality that there is far more going on than we can presently take in with our senses. There is more going on in our neighborhoods, more going on in our churches, more going on in the world and more going on in our present circumstances.

Moses had to learn this. He witnessed God in a burning bush and was then summoned to stand before Pharaoh and give him orders.

Moses thought to himself, I am just a stuttering, stammering fool of a man. Who am I to do such a thing? He was just the one that God appointed to bring Israel out of slavery.

Jesse learned this. He dismissed his youngest son, David, as a suitable candidate for the Lord’s anointing. But the Lord insisted and Jesse discovered that “the LORD does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

Mary learned this. Her poor, humble circumstances were no limit for God’s creative entrance into the human story.

And you and I need to learn this. It’s tempting to say, “I’m just an ordinary Christian. I’m only a youth. I’m simply a housewife. I’m not educated enough. I’m not brave enough. I can’t do that. That’s too much. That’s bigger than me.” At whatever place we most profoundly sense our inadequacy, there we are tempted to limit the possibility of new life being formed, of resurrection taking place, of God showing up.

Are you hearing a voice that dashes your dreams to the ground? Have you lost your ability to see that “earth’s crammed with heaven and every common bush afire with God” (Browning)? Ask God for new eyes. Pray for more faith. Look again at your life with a wee bit of imagination.