“The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” was a bigger than life story during the days of my childhood.  

Dorothy was lost and wanted to find home again. Her companions  were all looking for something precious that was seemingly lost or perhaps never quite attained.

She made friends along the way and they journeyed together to find the one thing they longed for most in life; a home, courage, a brain and a heart for love. They followed that yellow brick road, to seek out the great wizard, for surely, he who was all powerful could give them the one treasure they all desperately sought.

On the hero’s quest they encountered many perils, which was frightening to me as a child. I was terrified of the wicked witch and her cadre of flying monkeys, her foreboding crystal ball and those creepy forest trees that tried to pull them into their evil clutches.

Ah, but the good witch, Glenda was all sparkling and glowing with Light. She was kind and encouraging as she offered her wisdom to help guide their way.  Risking great dangers they finally made it to the Emerald City to ask the omnipresent wizard to help and give them the one treasure that would make them whole.

Alas, to their great disappointment the powerful wizard was just an ordinary man. Oh, the shock and dismay. An ordinary man hiding behind a facade of greatness, a persona built up over a lifetime.

This morning the great wizard of Oz was in my thoughts. For you see, I know what it feels like to be the wizard. To wonder, what if people looked behind the curtain to see the REAL me. The ordinary, unadorned, sometimes boring, not so artistic me, they too would be disappointed.  Just like Dorothy and her friends, on some level, I too believe that there is something is lacking in me; a sense of worthiness.

There is a sense of shame and embarrassment when the mask falls and the facade crumbles but in our vulnerability we can find new strength to claim our truth. Not in self recriminations but in the reality of what we are, born of love and returning to love. Our lives bring us full circle.

The moral of this classic story teaches us that our struggle to complete ourselves is to recover what lies hidden. Eventually our pursuit brings us home, transformed by our experience and the wonderful people we have met along the way.

Our treasure is not found in isolation but rather in relationship. For it is only then that we discover the redemptive power of Love.  I am grateful for how much those I love enrich my life in meaningful ways. And when I act like the wicked witch and my perceptions become all skewed, I am sorry for the hurt I cause myself and others.  It is only through the grace of forgiveness for ourselves and others that we learn how to truly love.

Liz Sorensen Wessel