The Wizard of Oz is Like Breathing to Me - Episode 30
Arlana describes her life as a kaleidoscope: beautiful, full of light and ever-changing. She has had many opportunities to do amazing things which she shares with us in our conversation. As she describes it, a passion for helping women found her. Arlana has led retreats, worked with young women through equine therapy, reached others in juvenile hall to name a few of her endeavors. Her talk entitled Ruby Red Slippers has been heard by over 8,000 women and counting. You’ll hear more about her love for The Wizard of Oz and how at the tender age of 4 she knew she was called to the yellow brick road by helping others care for their souls - cura animarum in Latin.
Passionate. Kind. Determined. — Arlana
A Word I Hate
Thoughts from The Wizard of Oz is Like Breathing to Me
This is a positive website and podcast by design. So it feels strange to have this as a title for this blog post. And yet I feel it is necessary. Let me explain.
There are a lot of words that have become a common part of every day conversations. I hear them uttered across many age-groups. They are pervasive. You know the words I’m talking about. I will not tell you I have never uttered a foul word. I have. A few times it even felt good. But then there is the regret I could have done better. Yet I don’t keep myself on the hook long.
Here’s the kicker. That’s not even what I want to talk about.
There is a word found throughout the Bible that I have noticed is a trigger for me. This is the word I hate. Sin. And it’s not because I don’t agree with the principle behind it. The definitions is: to offend against a principle, standard, etc. We all do that on a regular basis! We are human after all and WILL go against a standard(s) no matter how hard we try not to.
The reason for the hate (and I had to look that up too to make sure it fit what I was trying to convey: to dislike intensely or passionately; feel extreme aversion for or extreme hostility toward; detest) is because of its misuse and abuse by Christians. Not all Christians mind you. Just enough to make a difference. And not a good one. People the world over have been clobbered over and over with this word, and a fear-based message to go along with it. Fear is an effective motivator but it is not a true, pure one.
I am now triggered by this word or sinner. Again, there is understanding behind the concept but far too much pain has been caused trying to shame people into a life of faith. May I point out the obvious: Jesus was all about love. That is what I was taught as a child. Thankfully I have never been clobbered by the fear-based approach but the Enneagram #8 in me feels deeply for those people who have. It is wrong. No doubt people were doing what they thought best. But they turned people off instead of on. And not all Christians follow these tactics so I’m not trying to throw us all under the bus. Many can use the word sin in a fearless-based way.
I am taking a page from Mike Erre of the Vox Podcast #voxpodcast when he shares it is his deepest desire to make Jesus beautiful in all he says and does. End stop. So I’ve adopted that phrase, that line, that philosophy and made it mine too. When I fail to make Jesus beautiful, I tell him that very thing. Or when I hear atrocities inflicted on others, or legalism run amok, I think, they are making Jesus ugly. And I am either enraged or sad or both. Then I realize they don’t know any better. Forgive them for they know not what they do.
This works for me.
I went out on a vulnerable limb today in sharing some of my most personal thoughts. I’m not asking you to agree. Maybe just ponder a bit about fear vs. love. And I’ll hope I don’t have a vulnerability hangover tomorrow.
Mistakes are always forgivable. If one has the courage to admit them.
— Bruce Lee
