Just recently, one of my young adult nephews was saying his ‘goodbyes’ to me and my family before our arduous drive from Texas to North Carolina. He wore a Texas-size grin, hugged my neck, and whispered into my ear:
“I think I’ll miss you most of all.”
I pulled back, showcased what had to be a beaming smile, “I feel like the Scarecrow.”
Near the end of the iconic 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz, as Dorothy Gale prepared to return to Kansas, she said her ‘goodbyes’ to her three traveling companions. First, the Tin Man who, now able to experience deep emotion, began to shed rust-threatening tears. Then Dorothy stepped to the right, fingered through the Cowardly Lion’s fur and, with an anguished chuckle, she confessed that she’d miss all the times he hollered for help.
Finally, Dorothy rounded on her ruby-slippered heels as tender strains of violins lower to a hush. And she whispered:
“I think I’ll miss you most of all.”
But, WHY?
Why did the screenwriter(s) include this sentimental exchange in the film? especially when it doesn’t exist in L. Frank Baum’s original work, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1901)?
I honestly don’t know.
From the beginning, Dorothy and the Scarecrow discovered that they were quite simpatico:
“Some people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don’t they?” Scarecrow supposed.
“Yes. I guess you’re right,” Dorothy sweetly agreed.
Were they to tune into any of today’s TV or radio stations, I’m pretty confident they’d make the same observation. But I digress…
Dorothy invited Scarecrow to join her on the journey, even freeing him from the pole. Otherwise, the animated bag of straw was powerless to follow her anywhere (Romans 5:6).
Maybe Dorothy recognized Scarecrow’s sacrifices to protect her. Dismemberment in the wicked forest had to be troubling. He was the target of a fireball slung from the gnarled, green hand of the Wicked Witch of the West and, knowing the demonic threats that were sure to accompany them, could have justifiably retreated from Dorothy’s side at that point. And it was the Scarecrow who rallied the other two to rescue Dorothy from the witch’s ominous, granite castle.
Emboldened by Dorothy’s affirmation, Scarecrow didn’t let his brainless shortcomings become an excuse for not trying to achieve their intended goal. That had to encourage her heart.
Jesus never showed favoritism among people, yet He felt great affection for John, who refers to himself as ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved’ (John 13:23). Maybe John purposed to know Jesus more intimately during their travels and considered it an honor to be in company with Him.
Contrastly, Philip stated, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” (John 14:8). Nevermind that Jesus had just said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6
Jesus rebuked, “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time?” John 14:9a
I believe the bigger question is not why Dorothy would miss Scarecrow most but, rather, have my words and actions along this meandering, yellow brick road of life been such that Jesus would affectionately whisper,
Hope so. Because some people without brains still do an awful lot of talking.