Tinker Bell
I’m thinking about Tinker Bell today…not the scantily clad tiny blonde of Disney’s animated creation, or even the glowing but rather stout fairy described by J. M. Barrie in his original story Peter Pan. I will always associate Tinker Bell with the ground-breaking television drama that first appeared as a live production in 1956 and continued as an annual re-broadcast for many years. In this classic video version, Tinker Bell is shown only as a glowing ball of light that skitters and flits through the scenery. Just as in Barrie’s story, she communicates only with her special friend Peter in small bell–like sounds interpreted by Peter for the mere mortals who sat before their tiny screens, entranced by her magical presence. Tinker Bell brings light to the play in many ways beyond the visually captivating orb that flickers and flies: by her loyalty and friendship; by her impish sense of fun; by her bad moods and temperamental actions; and especially by the way she risks her life to save Peter from the diabolical Captain Hook and his nefarious plots.
One of the most delightful parts of the story during the television adaptation occurs when actress Mary Martin, a la Peter Pan breaks the fourth wall and turns deliberately to the television audience to assist her in saving Tinker Bell. Tinker Bell is quickly dying, poisoned as she drank the potion meant to kill Peter. Her last brave act will, we fear, be a fatal one. Do you believe in fairies? Peter Pan asks us, looking directly through the screen and urging the young and the young at heart to demonstrate their beliefs. Then clap! urges Peter. As the sound of clapping begins to flow magically over the air waves, Tinker Bell’s inner light begins to glow and grow. The clapping continues, and the fading ball of light grows bright and sure and strong. An empowered Tinker Bell once again soars and zooms. As a young child, I remember being riveted to the small black and white screen in my living room, desperately clapping as hard as I could to save Tink–and Peter and Wendy and the Lost Boys– from grief and disaster. It is hard to imagine anyone witnessing this touching scene without feeling hopeful as the power of faith is victorious once again.
But creating feel good moments is not really what I ponder all these many years later, and fairies and pixie dust, while lovely images, seem a rather odd way to expand my spiritual explorations. Making a leap between Tinker Bell and the spirit of God, however, is entirely logical today– a connecting the dots, other-shoe-dropping moment that grabs me as I think about the way that Tinker Bell’s spirit was restored. As often happens during my devotional time, leaps across genres, across memories, between past, present and future seem to appear as if by a fairy’s magic. My mind leaps, and I recall the words read a few months ago in a church bulletin, penned by Teresa of Avila, who wrote so touchingly about her encounters with the presence of God: When I tried to shame myself once more from his presence, God showed me his compassion and spoke a divine truth, ‘I made you, dear, and all I make is perfect. Come closer, dear, for I desire you’1. It is the last part of this excerpt from Love Poem from God that clicks with me as I think about the spirit and the ways to keep God’s presence near. Come closer, dear… Aah, God is here, and desires me, but I must be the one to come closer, as God is always as near as I allow God to be. I am urged to draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith 2 (Hebrews 10:22a). For Tinker Bell’s light and life to be saved, some action, some movement, had to occur. People, even a small pig-tailed, scrawny little girl, had to take part in rescuing this tiny bit of life. By clapping and clapping, little by little, faith was communicated and grew until Tinker Bell’s spirit became once more a vital force. Wishing did not make it so. Only intention followed by action could rescue and energize.
It is the idea of drawing near that I am called to as this day unfolds. Drawing near makes the unconventional connection between a children’s story and my own spiritual growth. Drawing near is movement…. Drawing near is volition… Drawing near is a deliberate and careful choice. Deepening the relationship with the Holy cannot be only a one-sided waiting for something Divine to appear, whatever that may mean.
Today is Ash Wednesday, the Holy Day that marks the beginning of the Lenten Season in many Christian traditions. While Lent is often viewed as a time of austerity, self-denial, prayer and meditation, it is, in essence, a time to draw near to Spirit. Whether or not you choose to participate in the Imposition of Ashes, an observance in which ashes from previous Easter palms are used to mark the sign of the Cross on a participant’s forehead, this day can mark a time for drawing near… Penitence, an integral part of Ash Wednesday services, requires a drawing near to sincere self-reflection, to humility, to mercy, to forgiveness. I am reminded on this particular day that I have a role in this play of life, the role of faith and hope and deliberate choices on my part to move closer to Spirit’s warmth and light. The time set aside for devotion of necessity requires an action, a measure of faith, on my part as I seek to come closer to the Light. Much of Barrie’s play is, I discover, about faith, and hope, and above all, action. In the words of Peter Pan… The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease forever to be able to do it. Faith and hope must precede action, or is it that action must be firmly tethered to faith and hope for the Spirit to soar? Clapping, clapping, clapping…. There is work to be done during this Lenten season, work that springs from Light, but goes beyond solitary contemplation. Clapping, clapping, clapping… I’m coming closer. I’m drawing near. I await your Light. I see it growing. Soon, perhaps, I will glow and grow brighter and bolder as I reflect your presence.
1Attributed to Love Poem from God by Teresa de Avila, written in the 1500’s.
2Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith… Hebrews 10:22a
Questions for Reflection:
Drawing near, as a spiritual practice, can include many different practices and interpretations. What does this idea mean to you?
Belief and Action… Action and Belief… How would describe the relationship between these two ideas in your faith journey?
