Dorothy had it right all along

I had the wonderful opportunity not long ago to share with little Scamp a much loved movie from my childhood, The Wizard of Oz.  I remember watching it once a year filled with excitement and just a little trepidation at the appearance of those pesky flying monkeys!  Looking at it now, as an adult, I can't help but wonder how those little winged chimps could have brought on such fear.  They just looked so realistic!  Their acting skills must have been less than great, though, as I don't think any of them have done much since.  I do love the part towards the beginning of the movie when Dorothy first lands in Oz and steps out of her witch killing abode.  She had been living in a land of black and white and she is suddenly thrust into a world of brilliant color.  I've often thought this was a good representation of my life after the Lord found me. 



I have so many favorite scenes there isn't room to list them all, but one does stand out in my mind today.  It's the one when Dorothy meets the wizard for the first time.  She and all her friends fearfully make their way down the long corridor leading into the throne room of the great and mighty Oz.  When they get there the head that seems to float before them is quite intimidating.  It's harsh and angry and downright mean to the little group.  When they present their requests he requires a seemingly impossible task be completed first.  You all know the movie, I'm sure, how Dorothy throws water on the wicked witch and melts her thereby allowing her to take her magic broom for the wizard.  When they all return to the Emerald City and present the broom they are shocked when the wizard tells them to go away and come back later.  Dorothy gets mad and starts to tell the giant floating head off when her attention is grabbed by little Toto.  The little dog had discovered a curtain with a funny little man behind it over to the side.  "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain" says mr floating head, but the gig is up.  He's been found out! 

How many times have we trembled in fear before a giant floating head in our life only to find out later is was controlled by a harmless little man behind the curtain?  We must not take what seems to be truth at first glance to always be right.  Dorothy and her little crew could have given up and gone away never to see the realization of their dreams, but they were willing to go behind the curtain.  They looked deeper and learned the truth, and as we all know, the truth shall set us free. 

The lesson I learned from this favorite childhood movie is this; don't accept surface reality.  Look deeper, question everything, take nothing for what it seems to be.  How many times has the enemy floated a big old giant head in front of me and told me I couldn't do something?  How many times have I, like the cowardly lion, dove through the window to escape what I was sure was certain death?  If I had only stopped to check out the little man behind the curtain, things could have turned out differently.  Remember, just like Dorothy, we already have all we need to make it home.  We simply have to believe. 

The movie has given me a few ideas.  Parts of it had the same affect on Scamp as it had on me as a child.  I wonder if those monkeys do private work.  I could use some help on the discipline front. Too much???  Maybe.......

Soaked in His blessings,
Spokenfor