Shrink wrap. A ubiquitous cultural icon rivaling coke bottles, utility bills and watches that go BEEP in the night.

It seems like a good idea: a form-fitting container that lets you see what's inside while protecting the contents from scrapes, scratches, bumps, dents, baby slobber and the U.S. Postal Service. Theoretically, at least, you get most of what thought you were getting in reasonable order.

But does it work that way? Hah! How many times have you received a shrink-wrapped magazine in mint condition, only to rip the covers, corners and first eighty pages to shreds in the process of getting to it? The family dog couldn't have done better with a pound of Poochy Chow wrapped in the Daily News.

How does shrink wrap work? You squeeze all the air out and wrap it so tightly you couldn't get a grip on it if you tried. You let the sunlight through, but only to bleach and fade what's inside. You leave no room to breathe, to stretch, or to grow, but you use clear wrap so all the lumps, bumps and warts show through.

Do we do this to our children, to our friends, to our mates, our church? Do we wrap them up so tightly in preconceptions, notions of "propriety" or of what used to be, what we've done before, fears of "what's out there" that we take away all their hopes and chances to grow? Do we do it to ourselves, acting over-cautiously in fear instead of confidently in faith? Do we look too much at the bottom line and not enough at the horizon?

The Lord told Joshua: "Be strong, be resolute; I will never fail you nor forsake you."

Let's get our faith out of the shrink wrap.