Wondering, Wandering, and Writing

Mary Poppins floats in on the breeze to corral mischievous children.
Kitt (Knight Rider’s electronic marvel of a self-driving car)  zooms safely across the country to prevent a disaster.
Peter Pan’s pixie dust lifts Wendy and brothers into the air and carrying them to Never-Land.
Nanny McPhee’s warts disappear as the children learn to be obedient and respectful.
Cinderella’s rags become a stunning ball gown.
The Great and All Powerful Wizard of Oz is ….. what?! …. a stunt man from Kansas who has built a reputation based on technology and illusion?  What?!

Oh how often do we see the illusion when we look at others.? The tendency to “keep up with the Joneses” (whoever they were) existed long before social media, so the internet is not to blame (although it has intensified the tendency).

Once we look behind the perfect party pictures posted on social media, we may find …

a frazzled mom frantically finding care for all her children

a dozen dedicated dear friends who didn’t care who got the credit, so they all pitched in to help

a daddy or grandparents who sacrificed a fishing expedition or a weekend trip to facilitate funding the festivities

the camaraderie of the clean-up crew

Those perfect party pictures are not an illusion like those created by the Wizard of Oz, but it does require work.  Even the Wizard’s illusions required work.  I’ve heard from a reliable source than fireworks and illusion that make you go “AHHH,” “oooooo,” and “WOW” require work to present.  Work.  Effort. Time. They are behind every “magical moment” we see.

And then there are those seemingly rare moments when the results are so much more than the work alone would produce.

Plans fall into place before people even talk to each other about them.

Money is donated before the need is publicized.

Aching joints and muscles are relieved as a gentle breeze blows.

Encouraging words touch aching hearts.

Beautiful music soothes souls and lifts our thoughts to the eternal.

Old friends get in touch, and new friendships are made.

When God’s children are obedient to his calling, beautiful things happen – things that are so much better than the magical moments of theater.  I very much enjoy magical theatrical moments, but they last for a moment.  The healing that occurs when God’s children listen to him and follow through – that’s forever.

#bgwww25