“Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain,” says the flustered Wizard of Oz, as he tries to hide his whiz-bang technology. But to no avail. The truth of his trickery is revealed. I thought of that scene this past week as we watch another showman try to keep the curtain closed. According to L. Frank Baum, author of the Oz series, the wizard had been a traveling carnival magician. Speaking as a former amateur magician, no entertainer wants curious eyes looking behind the curtain. The puzzlement, or awe of the effect, is the point. The wizard had created an illusionary world of fear and subjugation. Smoke, mirrors, and great big projections created multiple distractions in Oz. It was a curious little dog named Toto that revealed it all. 

We live in an age where private acts and unguarded moments will live on forever. See the video of the CEO and his mistress on the Kiss Cam at the Coldplay Concert? When nearly everyone in the world has a camera-telephone in their pocket, anyone can become a news reporter or private eye.  Things once spoken or written for a specific audience are now saved on computers in the cloud, even after they have been deleted. The lines between privacy and security have become blurred. 

Jesus once reminded His followers: What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight (Luke 12:1-4). So how then should we live? Jesus is encouraging us to be people of integrity, honesty and truthfulness. He warns us not to become deceivers. My great-grandmother used to say: Be sure your sins will find you out.  Things got better in Oz when the curtain was opened, and the wizard faced the world humbled and flawed.

Keep healthy. Pray mightily. Enjoy your life today. Check your curtain. And let’s experience the love and power of God together.

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