The Wizard of Oz is one of the great classics of children’s literature and ranks at the top of the list of some of the most beloved films in American cinema. However, as the Wizard said, “Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain,” because he got something seriously wrong. At the end of the adventure, when the characters are receiving their requests for fulfilling the mission of getting rid of the Wicked Witch of the West, the Wizard says something to the Tin Man that could not be further from the truth.
In case you forgot how the story goes, the Tin Man wanted a heart. The Wizard informs the Tin Man, much to his surprise, that he already had a heart. His good deeds were evidence of his heart. In fact, the Tin Man’s good deeds were just as good if not better that the good deeds of the “good-deed doers” of the world (that would be humanitarians for our tongue-tied friend). What the Tin Man really needs is a Testimonial. That’s when the Wizard presents the Tin Man with the heart shaped watch and fob. Now comes the Wizard’s error. Upon presenting the testimonial the Wizard says, “A heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others.”
On its face this sounds pretty good because, let’s be honest, who doesn’t want to be loved? But when you really think about it you realize that the Wizard’s statement is one of the biggest loads of hooey ever pronounced. Even Hitler and Osama bin Laden had people that loved them, and they were two of the most vicious and malevolent men who ever lived. They brought violence and death to anyone that didn’t fit their mold and vision of humanity. They were, and are, beloved by millions. Most, including me, would say they got the due and just results of their hatred. So should a heart be judged by how much it is loved by others, or by how much it loves others?
Jesus put it this way in the Gospel of Luke, “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be called sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” [1] The Bible also says that we know what love is because God has first loved us.[2] In Romans the point of God’s love for even the wicked is reiterated when it says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”[3]
So then, real love is about giving, not receiving. It’s taking that first step to reach out to that person who is your enemy, who does not love you, and show them genuine concern and compassion without expecting anything in return. Stop waiting to be loved and go out and love someone. Indeed, “Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!” He has no idea what he is talking about.
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