The Wizard of Oz is arguably the most popular movie of all time. According to the Library of Congress, “[The Wizard of Oz] has been seen by more viewers than any other movie.” The same Library of Congress post notes that a poll by People Magazine declared it “the favorite movie of the twentieth century.” The film was originally released back in 1939, celebrating 84 years of existence this past August. In an era when movies are seemingly released daily, many of which are little more than white noise, it is impressive to reflect upon a movie that has maintained relevance for so long.
While there are movies that I, personally, consider better than The Wizard of Oz, I can think of few that I have watched more times or that are more indelibly seared into my memory. As a child, I considered it the scariest movie ever made. I couldn’t think of anything more horrifying than a green witch with a legion of flying monkeys she could send after me or my dog. I still shudder when I hear the iconic line, “I’ll get you my pretty, and your little dog too,” followed by that evil laugh. I also found the wizard to be terrifying. When he first appears, he’s a green, disembodied head floating over a massive throne, with smoke and flame shooting all around. To top it off, he’s super angry and mean. After the first watching, however, the fear of the Wizard disappeared. When you finally see behind the curtain, you realize there is no all-powerful wizard. There is just an ordinary person trying to find a way back to where he belongs.
This is why the movie has maintained relevance for all these years. It’s what prompted me to go back and watch it a few weeks ago. It has nothing to do with the quality of the graphics or acting, though they did a great job with what little they had at the time. It has little to do with the amazing musical numbers, though the songs do still slap, as the kids say these days. What makes the movie matter is the transcendent and timeless lessons. The wizard, like many of the characters in the movie, reveals a truth we all know and experience in our own lives: When you get behind the curtain, all of us have hurts, all of us struggle with loneliness, and all of us are searching for belonging and something to make us whole.
When you get behind the curtain, all of us have hurts, all of us struggle with loneliness, and all of us are searching for belonging and something to make us whole.
Here in the real-world, however, there are no magic shoes to transport us to where we belong with three simple clicks and wishful thinking. We can’t just hope our way to wholeness. No amount of affirmations from some self-proclaimed wizard will make us whole. As helpful and important as positive thinking might be for our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being, it is insufficient in and of itself. It will always leave us needing something more. When you pull back the curtain, it will always reveal the truth of our brokenness and inadequacy in and of ourselves. I am not enough. You are not enough. Only Jesus is enough.
The Bible tells us that there is salvation in no other name than the name of Jesus (Acts 4:11-12). He alone has what it takes to heal the brokenness that is so prevalent in our world and in our own lives. It is by putting our faith in His amazing grace that we find salvation and through which we have hope and purpose for this life and the next (Ephesians 2:8-9). He invites all of us to come to Him, and when we do, He promises we will find Him and find the peace our souls so deeply desire and need (Matthew 11:28).
There is no yellow brick road to lead us to some magical wizard who can make it all better. There is, however, a narrow path on which we will find full and meaningful life as we follow the Son of God…
When you pull the curtain back, we’re all just every day, ordinary people facing different struggles and troubles, trying to find our way to wholeness and home. There is no yellow brick road to lead us to some magical wizard who can make it all better. There is, however, a narrow path on which we will find full and meaningful life as we follow the Son of God, God made flesh, who opened the only avenue for us to one day reside in streets paved with gold. May we not seek fulfillment and wholeness through misplaced notions of the inner strength of humanity. Rather, may we stop hiding behind the curtain, admit our need, and seek Jesus. He alone has what our hearts so desperately desire and so deeply need.
