WELCOME TO THE LAND OF OZ

Luke 10:25-37

REMEMBERING THE STORY

It is one of America's best-known and loved stories -- that of a Kansas girl named Dorothy who was caught up in a cyclone and whisked off to the Land of OZ. OZ, we are told, is a country of marvelous beauty with green fields and stately trees bearing rich and luscious fruit. There is a sparkling little brook and banks of gorgeous flowers. As Dorothy gazes upon this beautiful land, she becomes aware that she is being stared at by the strangest group of people who we later learn to be Munchkins.

Dorothy feels a bit lonely among these kind strangers and is really a bit anxious to return home to her family, but no one seems to know the way. The Munchkins tell her all they can, suggesting that maybe the great Wizard who lives in the Emerald City can assist her. So Dorothy sets off down the Yellow Brick Road for the Emerald City to meet the wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Along the way, Dorothy meets three odd characters who also have a need to see the Wizard: a Cowardly Lion who wants courage, a Scarecrow who wants a brain, and a Tin Man who wants a heart. Though Dorothy knows neither the way nor the Wizard, she invites her new-found friends to make the journey with her. Perhaps together they will find their way to the Emerald City and the great and wonderful OZ.

It turns our to be quite a journey. Whenever this band of travelers encounters danger, it is the Cowardly Lion who manages to help them find their way safely. Whenever they meet an obstacle that requires careful planning, it is the Scarecrow who comes up with the winning idea. And though he lends a helping hand, it is the Tin Man who slows their pace because he is so overcome by the plight of the others that his tears rust his working parts.

Finally, they arrive at the Emerald City and gain an audience with the Wizard -- but it turns out the Wizard is not a wizard at all, but a phony magician from Omaha. He is of no help -- none that is, until he discovers and reports to them that things like courage, the ability to think and to love are not things he can give them but rather are qualities that are developed in relationship to others. And through their experience together, the Cowardly Lion has developed courage, the Scarecrow has used his brain and developed the ability to think, and the Tin Man has shown that he already has a heart filled with love.

And with that discovery, the Wizard who was not really a wizard, becomes a Wizard. And as for Dorothy...she discovers a deeper understanding and appreciation for the meaning of family as she lives among those who share their life and love in a common search for meaning.

 

REMEMBERING THIS IS OUR STORY, TOO.

Dwayne, welcome to the Land of OZ! God's Spirit has blown like a strong wind, bringing you and Karen into this beautiful New Paris community, where for a while you may be stared at as newcomers by those who may still seem a bit strange to you.

And in this new land, you will find:

As you begin your journey together, as pastor and congregation, there will be opportunities for continuing growth that comes through our relationships with one another.

I believe that in this story of Dorothy and her traveling companions we may find our own story as individuals, and as a Christian community, searching to understand the deeper meanings of life and love and community.

 

REMEMBERING JESUS' STORY

It is that search for meaning that Jesus addresses in his parable of the Good Samaritan that was read for us this morning.

Jesus, you will remember, tells this parable to answer a question. A young lawyer had asked Jesus, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Now the word translated "eternal" carries with it a meaning that goes beyond meaning "life in the hereafter." The lawyer's question is really asking the same question that each one of us asks from time to time: "How can I discover the deeper meanings of life?" or "What must I do to live a more meaningful and satisfying life?"

Jesus replies, "What is written in the law (the scriptures)? What do you read there?"

The lawyer shows that he understands the law -- his version of the scriptures -- when he answers: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself."

"You are right," Jesus answers, "do this and you will live."

Jesus understood that though this young lawyer knew the law and knew the scriptures, the problem came in being able to practice it in his daily living. Through this parable, Jesus reminds us that discipleship involves more than knowing all the correct answers - discipleship means putting what we know into practice.

 

LIVING THE STORY

Dwayne, you may not know all the answers to the questions the members of this congregation put to you ... and that's OK -- they will accept you as a learner along the way with them. But they will look to see if you try to practice the discipleship that you teach and preach about.

Likewise, within this congregation you will find individuals who have a widely varying degree of knowledge of the scriptures, about Brethren beliefs and practices, about Church history ... and that's OK, too ... as long as we seek to continue growing in our understanding as well as living out the Christian values and teachings that we do understand.

Jesus never promises those who follow him that life's journey will be easy. He knew that the journey to the Kingdom would be rough and long and filled will all kinds of obstacles.

In this parable, the danger of the journey is emphasized in the choice of roads where Jesus sets the story -- the road that runs from Jericho to Jerusalem. It was a mountainous road with winding turns, that led through rough and desolate country. The road was well-known for its dangers and for the robbers who threatened those who traveled the road.

It is on this dangerous stretch of road, says Jesus, that we discover true neighborliness through a samaritan who stops to assist one who has been beaten and left for dead. Jesus reminds us that to be neighborly is to minister to the one who needs you.

Dwayne, as pastor of this congregation, you do not know today what needs you may find around the next bend in the road; but you can expect to be needed. And that is true for each one of us -- to put our faith into practice means to minister to those whom we find in need.

In answer to the lawyer's question: "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?"; Jesus answers that only in loving God and neighbor in an active and real way, will we discover our full potential for eternal/abundant/authentic living.

The poet, Ernest Crosby, puts it this way in a poem:

No one could tell me where my soul might be.

I searched for God, and He alluded me;

I sought my brother out, and found all three.

The counterpart of the lawyer in Jesus' parable lives today in each one of us. We search for meaning and for purpose in our lives. We are all on a journey through life that takes us down the dark and dangerous roads of life. But if we are to reach our ultimate destination, we must learn to be neighborly to the one who needs our help along the way. Or, as a pastor/friend of mine once said, "We have to get off our donkey and get involved!"

 

CONCLUDING THE STORY

That is precisely what happened to Dorothy and her traveling companions as they journey along the Yellow Brick Road -- they got involved in each other's needs. I believe the parable of the Wizard of OZ has a lesson for us about living together as a Christian community. Within the church, we can develop and use our God-given talents for "the Glory of God and our neighbor's good," and in so doing we move toward the Kingdom as more complete and whole persons.

It is not the purpose of the church to hire a pastor to come in and do the ministry for us, rather it is to call Dwayne to come and walk among us and help each one of us to reach our full potential as children of God and disciples of Jesus Christ.

So, Dwayne, once again I say to you: "Welcome to the Land of OZ!" The Munchkins, scarecrows, cowardly lions and tin men/women who live here welcome you and invite you to join them on their search for the deeper meanings of life. They will support and encourage you in Christian community; even as they will also look to you for guidance, support, encouragement on their journey of life, and help in their times of need.

To each of you:

may the journey ahead be both challenging and rewarding
as together you grow to become all that God intends for you to be.

 

Installation Sermon for Dwayne Runkle
Herman Kauffman, District Executive Minister
Maple Grove Church of the Brethren
September 14, 2003

 

RESOURCE:

1. The Wizard of OZ, L. Frank Baum