The Wizard of Oz is one of those books/movies that nearly everyone has read/seen.

In fact, The Library of Congress says that it is the most-watched movie ever!

The Wizard of Oz means a lot of different things to a lot of different people.

There is so much I could say about The Wizard of Oz & my experience at the Autumn at Oz Festival at the Land of Oz theme park, but I just want to share a little snippet of what The Wizard of Oz means to me.

As a Christian I tend to see the gospel in everything. I see the gospel in things that seemingly have nothing to do with the gospel, like lots of secular media/entertainment.

I know that The Wizard of Oz was not intentionally a religious allegory, but I see biblical truths & biblical lessons throughout the story/film.

I want to share just one with you & challenge you to see the gospel in all things! Or at least pray & ask God to use what’s in front of you (even if it seemingly has nothing to do with God) to reveal more of who He is, & to reveal more of His heart to you. You will be amazed at how God can reveal Himself in all things!

This is How God wants to speak to us, in a way that we can understand & on a personal level.

He doesn’t only teach us in a Church building, or solely through Christian music, movies, etc. All those things are great, don’t get me wrong! & I personally consume a lot of Christian media, but when we start to believe that God can only be seen/glorified through those things, we are missing out on seeing Him in ALL things. He shows up where you invite Him. You only need to ask & believe!

Sorry, I got a little off the yellow brick road.

The lesson I feel led to share is:

There will always be something we want to chase here in this fallen world that we believe will make us happier or more fulfilled. Maybe it’s more money, a bigger house, new car, career, fame etc. These are our “Emerald Cities”

We believe wholeheartedly that if we reach the Emerald City & “meet the wizard” we will get exactly what we desire! Only to find out that it isn’t at all what we thought & we are left disappointed.

All you long for when you reach your Emerald City is to go where? Home.

So, the big Bible teaching moment in this for me, is that there is no “Emerald City” here in this fallen world that will give me that “homey” peaceful feeling or get me closer to home.

Being at the Oz Festival this past weekend has me in a childlike mindset. Along with everything that has been going on these past couple months: Alaska trip, my grandfather passing away, my kids starting to play “make-believe”, planning my sons fourth birthday party, I’ve just been really nostalgic lately. I’ve been having that childhood “homey” feeling, like I’m back at my childhood home & my mom is baking cookies & I feel safe, cared for, loved.

It is such a sweet & comforting feeling. I wish I had better words to describe it.

I’ve been thinking about this feeling. Does everyone feel this peace? Or is this “homey” feeling the peace that only comes by believing in Jesus?

I watch quietly with that nostalgic peaceful feeling as my kids play “house”, hide-n-seek, put on productions & dance parties, set out on perilous adventures to find lost treasure, & serve ice cream out of my Volkswagen-turned-food truck (we spend a lot of time in the garage).

They entertain themselves & in doing so, they entertain me too, as I peek around, watching in the background of their make-believe moments, heart full & reminiscent of my childhood years when I too created a “make believe” utopia of moments with my sisters & cousins 🥹

I suppose I’m still daydreaming & “make-believing” as an adult, too! I daydream about the way things should have been & will be, the world God wanted for us from the beginning. I dream about what is to come! All that God promises for those who would only believe! A promised land of no more sickness, pain & death. A place where we all live happily forever after. 

A place that isn’t make-believe, but that by believing, you make it! Romans 10:9

A place where there isn’t any trouble.

Auntie Em:
Why don’t you find a place where there isn’t any trouble.

Dorothy:
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.

{singing}

Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high
There’s a land that I’ve heard of once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare dream,
Really do come true.

Someday I’ll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops,
Away above the chimney tops,
That’s where you’ll find me.

Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can’t I?
If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can’t I?

There’s no place like home.☝️💛🏠👠👠

-kortney sue