Living In Kansas, Wishing For Oz
Stories
Lectionary Tales for the Pulpit
Series V, Cycle C
Object:
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away." (vv. 1-4)
When it was released during Hollywood's golden year of 1939, The Wizard of Oz wasn't the perennial classic it has since become. The film did respectable business. It received six Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, but only won two: Best Song and Musical Score. It wasn't until its debut on television that this family favorite saw its popularity soar. The American Film Institute recently ranked the adaptation of the L. Frank Baum novel as the sixth best movie of all time.
Part of the film's allure is the simple, yet fantastic, story. Eleven-year-old Dorothy Gale becomes dissatisfied with her life after a run in with a local and powerful spinster, Miss Gulch. Dorothy dreams of some place "over the rainbow" where life is better than her current situation. Her Auntie Em encourages her by saying, "Why don't you find a place where there isn't any trouble."
Dorothy responds, "A place where there isn't any trouble. Do you suppose there is such a place, Toto? There must be. It's not a place you can get to by a boat or a train. It's far, far away. Behind the moon, beyond the rain."
Because of all the turmoil, Dorothy runs away with her dog, Toto. After a change of mind, she is lifted by a tornado before she can reach the storm cellar. When she awakens, she finds that she, Toto, and the farmhouse have landed in Munchkin Land.
In her quest to return home, Dorothy sets off for the Emerald City to meet the mysterious Wizard of Oz. Along her journey down the Yellow Brick Road, Dorothy meets the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, and the Scarecrow. All are dissatisfied with something in their lives and believe they can find it in the Emerald City. Of course everything works out as they all find what they were seeking.
Is there a place called Oz? Is there an Emerald City? Whether or not Dorothy actually traveled there via the tornado in the film or she experienced a dream where she subconsciously inserted familiar characters into a fantastic situation will forever be debated.
What we know as the truth is that we usually live in Kansas (although it could be anywhere on earth) -- we live in ordinary places with less-than-perfect lives. And we often long for The Emerald City of Oz -- a place where there isn't any trouble.
It is where John of Patmos found himself -- displeased with his existence. He was imprisoned for his faith and writing to others who were being persecuted for their faith. They were looking for "a place where there isn't any trouble." John reminds them that God will provide that place: "a new heaven and a new earth ... the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God."
When life ranges between ordinary and persecution, remember that God is present to wipe our tears. And we will one day make it to the New Jerusalem where "death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more." We will make it over the rainbow.
When it was released during Hollywood's golden year of 1939, The Wizard of Oz wasn't the perennial classic it has since become. The film did respectable business. It received six Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, but only won two: Best Song and Musical Score. It wasn't until its debut on television that this family favorite saw its popularity soar. The American Film Institute recently ranked the adaptation of the L. Frank Baum novel as the sixth best movie of all time.
Part of the film's allure is the simple, yet fantastic, story. Eleven-year-old Dorothy Gale becomes dissatisfied with her life after a run in with a local and powerful spinster, Miss Gulch. Dorothy dreams of some place "over the rainbow" where life is better than her current situation. Her Auntie Em encourages her by saying, "Why don't you find a place where there isn't any trouble."
Dorothy responds, "A place where there isn't any trouble. Do you suppose there is such a place, Toto? There must be. It's not a place you can get to by a boat or a train. It's far, far away. Behind the moon, beyond the rain."
Because of all the turmoil, Dorothy runs away with her dog, Toto. After a change of mind, she is lifted by a tornado before she can reach the storm cellar. When she awakens, she finds that she, Toto, and the farmhouse have landed in Munchkin Land.
In her quest to return home, Dorothy sets off for the Emerald City to meet the mysterious Wizard of Oz. Along her journey down the Yellow Brick Road, Dorothy meets the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, and the Scarecrow. All are dissatisfied with something in their lives and believe they can find it in the Emerald City. Of course everything works out as they all find what they were seeking.
Is there a place called Oz? Is there an Emerald City? Whether or not Dorothy actually traveled there via the tornado in the film or she experienced a dream where she subconsciously inserted familiar characters into a fantastic situation will forever be debated.
What we know as the truth is that we usually live in Kansas (although it could be anywhere on earth) -- we live in ordinary places with less-than-perfect lives. And we often long for The Emerald City of Oz -- a place where there isn't any trouble.
It is where John of Patmos found himself -- displeased with his existence. He was imprisoned for his faith and writing to others who were being persecuted for their faith. They were looking for "a place where there isn't any trouble." John reminds them that God will provide that place: "a new heaven and a new earth ... the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God."
When life ranges between ordinary and persecution, remember that God is present to wipe our tears. And we will one day make it to the New Jerusalem where "death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more." We will make it over the rainbow.
