James Barrie -- Author of 'Peter Pan' and a quote that's been haunting me for more than ten years.

This week’s Great Quote Monday comes to us from Scottish novelist and playwright Sir James Matthew Barrie. Barrie is best known as the creator of Peter Pan, a truly archetypal character that has transcended every medium of entertainment. However, nine years before the first appearance of ‘the boy who refused to grow up’, Barrie published a book titled ‘The Little Minister’:

“The life of every man is a diary in which he means to write one story, and writes another; and his humblest hour is when he compares the volume as it is with what he vowed to make it.”

- J.M. Barrie
Chapter 1, The Little Minister (1891)

When I first came across this quote in college, I found it bracing; an out-and-out dare to live your dreams. But as I got older, the truth of Barrie’s words began to sink in: there is indeed a gap– a chasm at times– between the life you promised to write for yourself and the life you find yourself in. In this context, Barrie’s was not invigorating at all. On the contrary, it felt like Marley’s chains.

But I’ve come to appreciate Barrie’s quote again in a new way. Life is largely comprised of two things: who you are and what you do. While related to each other, they are separate things. We have a great deal of control over the latter insofar as our accomplishments. But for the former, who we are, it’s all on us.

As far as becoming the person I believe God wants me to be, I don’t have to strive anymore to win His approval because as a Christian, I’m forgiven. But because I’m forgiven, I do want to try hard, out of gratitude.

As far as accomplishments, I believe in the end there will be a stark difference between what I thought I would accomplish in the beginning and what I tallied up by the end of the race. Thank goodness, too, because for a while I thought I wanted to be an actor. So when I compare those two volumes, yes, there will be a contrast and– with all due respect to Sir Barrie– that will be just fine with me.

So, what do you think about Barrie’s quote? Inspiring challenge or ponderous maxim? Leave a reply and let us know.

- Matthew Porter

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