So Long Neverland

By Kathy Anderst

I’ve been thinking about the life and death of Michael Jackson. Being one year older than Michael I feel in some ways, I grew up with him. Watching the “King of Pop” throughout the years, it became intriguing to watch his transformation from cute kid to lost soul. No doubt, he was a genius performer, choreographer and songwriter, but his personal life was questionable at the very least. Thrust into the limelight of fame at age eight, he never had a normal childhood thus, the reason for his Peter Pan mentality; Not wanting to grow up-trying to capture that idyllic, innocent childhood that he couldn’t quite grasp, because he never really had it. Although “Peter Pan Syndrome” is not officially a mental health diagnosis, it’s a pop-psychology term used to describe an adult who’s socially immature and does not want to grow up or take responsibility for his actions. During a well-known interview, journalist Martin Bashir hung out with him, hoping to get a glimpse of the “real” Michael and get some insight into his psyche. During the course of conversation about Neverland and his need to be surrounded by children, Jackson said to him, “I AM Peter Pan.” Birshir responded with “No, you’re Michael Jackson.” Then Jackson said, in his infamous permanently childish voice, “I’m Peter Pan in my heart.” There seemed to be a disconnect between reality and fantasy. Something in my heart broke as I watched this child in an adult body claim to be this eternal kid. Peter Pan, much like the mythological child-god Puer Aeternus, is forever young. Jackson seemed to emulate this mentality of Peter Pan; unable to relate well with adults, scoffing at boundaries and limits, finding restriction of any kind stifling and intolerable, totally in denial of any wrong doing. Given his immense wealth and seeing worship and adoration as necessary for self-esteem, it became easy to perpetuate this mindset. His Neverland Ranch was the ultimate physical manifestation of this boy who refused to become a man.

What about us? Have we refused to grow up-to mature into the people God wants us to be? Unlike Michael Jackson, the majority of us are not shielded by millions of dollars. It has been reported that it took $10 million a year just to maintain Neverland. His excessive narcissism allowed him to live in a fantasy world. We too, can easily create our own fantasy worlds. We are delusional if we believe God will not one day hold us accountable for our words, thoughts and actions. (Thank God for providing Jesus to take care of that!) I delude myself when I hang onto that one seemingly “little” thing that gets between me and God. I can shake my fist at Him like a petulant two-year-old saying, “Lord, you are asking too much of me!” “What’s wrong simply feels right- so I will do it anyway” “I want what I want and I want I now!” “You can’t make me!” Sound familiar? I can rationalize and justify. I know that God wants my free will. He won’t force me to do anything. But do I take advantage of it?

By watching the life and tragic death of Michael Jackson, I can learn something. I can see myself in the mirror, look back and see that I have a choice here. I can consider God’s word as my ultimate counsel. In Ephesians 4:13 it says to “become mature” attaining to the whole measure the fullness of Christ. I must WANT to be like Jesus, knowing that this life on earth in not my eternal destiny. I am not the one to judge whether Michael Jackson will be among the saved, but I do know that he was “choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures and did not mature into the person God could have used to glorify Himself. I choose to grow up into Jesus, fully mature, wanting to use my talents and gifts to glorify Gods’ kingdom. It may not be the easiest path to choose, but I choose heaven over Neverland!

Kathy Anderst writes from Medford, Oregon.