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One of my absolute favorite movies of all times is the Wizard of Oz.  I have loved this movie all of my life.  The more I review the story, the characters remain the same, but the faces change.  There will always be Dorthy, The Scarecrow, Tinman, Lion, Wizard, and the Wicked Witch, but the more time I spend looking at them, they begin to look like people I know.   Dorthy becomes you and I on the roadway of life seeking to get where we are suppose to be in destiny.  The Scarecrow, the Tinman, and the Lion, at a closer look become people we meet along the way that have their own set of problems. 

Within this wonderful story, I feel INSPIRATION, FRUSTRATION, and CELEBRATION. 

1.  INSPIRATION

I want to take the take the time to commend Dorthy.  Please notice, that even though Dorthy meets people along the pathway to Oz, she does not abandon the yellow brick road, her goals, or her destination. 

 She stops to help, offer advice, and even invites, but never abandons it for another plan.  She feels sorry for, and even seeks to make things temporarily better for those she encounters, but she NEVER ABANDONS her goals.  DORTHY REMEMBERS THAT THIS IS HER GOAL AND JOURNEY!!  

In fact, Dorthy says, I’m sorry for your problem, I will help get you down off the pole, repack you with straw, encourage your lack of courage, and even oil your rusty parts, but I CAN’T SAVE YOU.  I do know who can.  He is the Wizard of Oz and I am on my way to see him.  If he can do it for me, then maybe he can do it for you.  If you want to see him, come on and go with me. 

Did you notice that Dorthy never had trouble on the yellow brick road, but always alongside the yellow brick road? 

 Dorthy stopped to help but she didn’t stay long. There are always life’s interruptions but never take up permanent residency in temporary rest stops.  

 The steps of good man are ordered by the LORD.   The path you take may not be paved in yellow bricks, but they ensure arrival at a specific destination. 

2.  FRUSTRATION

The Scarecrow when placed in certain situations that required thinking and planning,  proved he had wisdom and knowledge.  The TINMAN in difficult trying times, proved he had a heart of love and care.  The LION in the face is extreme danger proved he had courage within.  

My question is, How did they have it and not know it?  Maybe it’s the SAME WAY we have housed and hidden within us so much God-given potential and ability, but yet it lies dormant and untapped.  Maybe it was the abandoning of the Scarecrow’s maker, the Tinman’s builder, and maybe the Lion’s parents?

What totally drives me bananas is, each one of them sang their own SONG OF PITY!! 

The Scarecrow sang, “I would not be just a nuffin’, My head all full of stuffin’, My heart all full of pain.  I would dance and be merry, Life would be a ding-a-derry, If I only had a brain.” 

Tin Man sang, “When a man’s an empty kettle he should be on his mettle, and yet I’m torn apart.  Just because I’m presumin’ that I could be kind-a-human, If I only had heart.
I’d be tender, I’d be gentle and awful sentimental Regarding Love and Art.
I’d be friends with the sparrows and the boys who shoots the arrows, If I only had a heart.”

The Lion sang,  “Yeah, it’s sad, believe me missy, When you’re born to be a sissy, Without the vim and verve.  I could show my prowess, Be a lion not a mouse, If I only had the nerve.”

What ever you have been through in your life, Don’t WRITE, PRODUCE, ARRANGE,AND PERFORM YOUR OWN SONG OF PITY. 

He who sings the BLUES, may ultimately live the BLUES!!

3.  CELEBRATION

With the aid of the Wizard, they all recieved what they desired.  Even if they had it within them the whole time!!  

Are you lacking in your life?  I know not of a Wizard behind a curtain, but I do know JESUS CHRIST OF NAZERATH.  Who hung, bled, and died at Calvary in an old rugged cross!!

No brains? No heart? No Courage? No hope? No future? No light at the end of the tunnel? 

I recommend JESUS!! I’m like Dorthy, Let’s go see HIM!!  If HE can do it for me, surely HE can do it for you

Dorthy didn’t offer me JESUS, but a man by the name of J.J. Phillips led me to meet HIM!! I pray that we would lead others who are lost along the pathway of life to JESUS!!