Directions for Following the Yellow Brick Road!

Directions for Following the Yellow Brick RoadBefore there were DVD players, DVR players, VHS players, cable or satellite capabilities, we had to watch whatever the three major networks offered on our television sets. That’s right, three choices, no waiting. During the holiday season yearly specials were shown to remind the audience what season we were in. If you missed, “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown,” or “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” or “Rudolph the Red nosed Reindeer,” or my favorite, “It’s A Wonderful Life,” no need to worry, because you could see it again next year at its appointed time.Yes, I am reminded of my youth every time I see an old claymation or cartoon telling me about a particular holiday story. One movie that I waited for each year with great anticipation was, “The Wizard of Oz.” As a child I was mesmerized by how things in Kansas were all in black in white, but life in Oz appeared in brilliant color. Even as a child I realized that just because something was in “black and white” didn’t make it bad, nor was everything in “color” always good. Dorothy’s family appeared in “black and white” and they loved her. The wicked witch of the West appeared in “color” and she hated Dorothy. Lesson number One - modern advancements aren’t necessarily good in the advancement of human relationships or bonding!Lesson number 2 - Dorothy needed the color of Oz to help her find the Yellow Brick Road. Can you imagine her trying to follow the Yellow Brick Road in Kansas? She would not have been able to tell if the road was yellow, green, or brown, because everything was in “black and white.” It’s down right impossible to get to a new place following the old way. Yes, a new start can get you to a new destination, you just need to be sure you really want to get where you’re going before you start.Lesson number 3 involves those ruby slippers. As a child I never really considered how Dorothy found herself wearing the beautiful, coveted ruby slippers. Her house fell on top of the wicked witch of the East, and there you have it, possession is nine tenths of the law. As a child I was not bothered by Dorothy wearing someone else’s shoes, even if they belonged to the wicked witch of the East. As an adult I make it a practice not to wear anyone else’s shoes. I don’t believe I have a phobia about it, but a man has to draw the line somewhere, and for me I do not want to cross the line of personal hygiene with my feet. Had I been in Dorothy’s shoes, so to speak, and the Good Witch of the South told me I could not remove those ruby slippers, I would complain. “Look ma’am, …er…, Miss,…er… Good Witch, I do appreciate these fine looking ruby slippers, but could you spray some kind of disinfectant in these shoes? I don’t want to catch something here in the Land of Oz that they don’t have a cure for back in Kansas!”Lesson 4 - walking in someone else’s shoes will make you more appreciative of your own shoes! Things in you’re life might be real challenging right now, but all of us have challenges in life. The Christian must not focus on the bad things in life, rather he or she must focus on the areas where God has blessed. Philippians 4:8 says, “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Regardless of where you find yourself today, in the “Black and White” of life or in the “Colorized” life, Jesus is Lord over all! Remember, don’t give in to sin. Think about it!