Farther down the Yellow Brick Road, Dorothy and the
Scarecrow come upon something shiny positioned between the trees that stops
them in their tracks. Upon further investigation they find a man made entirely
of tin who stand perfectly motionless. Dorothy hears him make some sounds.
“Did you groan?” she asks.
“Yes,” answers the Tin Man, “I did. I’ve been groaning for
more than a year, and no one has ever heard me before or come to help me.”
“What can I do for you?” she inquires softly.
“Get an oil can and oil my joints!”
Scarecrow and Dorothy find the oil can and methodically
begin to oil all the places the Tin Man bends and moves. Within a few minutes
he is like new again. He asks them were they are going and when they tell him,
he wants to know if the Wizard of Oz can give him a heart.
Tin Man says, “The greatest loss I have ever known was the
loss of my heart. While I was in love I was the happiest man on earth; but no
one can love who has not a heart, so I am resolved to ask Oz to give me one.”
Tin Man is right. To love another is one of the greatest
experiences in life and to be loved in return is a miracle to be cherished.
Love is essential to life. Love is life. Love shines as the subject of poets,
the music of composers, and the lyrics of song writers. Love transforms
ordinary life into an extraordinary experience.
Like the Tin Man says, love asks that we open our hearts
again and again. It asks that we let others off the hook, forgive, and let go
of everything that disturbs our inner peace. Love invites us to be more
accepting and caring toward ourselves and others, to do more of the things and
say more of the words that bring us closer together. Love thrives on feelings
of gratitude and is enhanced when we do the uplifting things that make us feel
more alive.
Love is the great healer. Love is transformative. Love is
why we are here. To love and be loved is the greatest wisdom. No matter how you
feel about love and sharing your life with another, the only thing that holds
us back from taking the risk again is fear. Fear creates obstacle after
obstacle, leads to judgments and criticism and prevents us from deeply and
satisfyingly loving and being loved.
The Tin Man’s story is a wonderful tale of having been in
love and wanting to be in love again. There is no blame. There is no guilt.
There is no anger. Because Dorothy hears his cry for help and extends her hand,
the Tin Man’s hope for loving and being loved is reawakened and his imagination
is revitalized. The truth sets him free.
Like the Tin Man, open your heart again and again; for to
love and be loved is life’s most gratifying gift and greatest joy.
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