"Oz the Great and Powerful" - Goodness over Greatness

A few friends and I went to see Oz the Great and Powerful this weekend because it looked like a very "green" movie for St. Patrick's Day -

It was, and the colors were brilliant. There were mixed reviews amongst the group...but I LOVED it! I'd been waiting for a movie that inspired me enough to blog about, and here it is! (Wreck It Ralph had a good moral or two but I didn't feel it was substantial enough to blog about. Les Miserables (2012) changed my life but I don't feel I can add anything to the tons of articles/blogs already written about it.) This movie was perfect fodder for my ravenous humanities-trained, analytically-driven mind...expressed in this blog.

In the black & white beginning, Annie (one of Oz's - aka Oscar Diggs - old flames, played by Michelle Williams) comes to his carnival wagon to tell him she has a marriage proposal (which she has put off deciding) to give Oz one last chance to propose to her. Oz gently tells her to marry John Gale, who is a "good" man like his own father but he wants to be more than that; he wants to be "great", which implies fame and fortune supposedly attainable thru his current profession as a carnival show wizard/magician.

Their tender moment is abruptly ended by a furious weightlighter who chases Oz into a hot air balloon. Oz cuts it loose from his predator only to get caught in a tornado, in which he realizes he may die and is not ready to meet his Maker, so he prays for a 2nd chance at life to change for the better. He lands in the land of Oz and everyone thinks he's the prophesied wizard that will come to save them from the Wicked Witch, who's been wrecking havoc (there are vague references to Jesus Christ throughout). He plays along so he can become king of Oz and inherit all the gold. He reveals his fraud only to his new sidekick flying monkey, Finney, although the Wicked Witch and the Good Witch are suspicious about his wizardry powers. The big difference is the Wicked Witch wants to kill Oz and take over the kingdom while the Good Witch (also played by Michelle Williams) sees beyond his fake "greatness" to encourage his inner "goodness" in order to save her people.

After using science inspired by his role model, Thomas Alva Edison, and some theatrical illusions of his trade, Oz manages to scare the Wicked Witches away and take over as king of Oz. The Good Witch tells him she knew he had it within him all along, and Oz has finally proven himself to himself that he can have a huge [positive] impact.

I love this movie for 2 main principles it illustrates:

1) REPENTANCE - I see everything thru gospel eyes, and Oz demonstrates repentance. Oz was a liar and a conman most of his adult life who was selfish, egotistical, and used people (like his loyal, mistreated assistant) for his own gain. He cared more about swimming in mounds of gold and sitting on the throne with his crown and scepter than saving the innocent people of Oz from the destruction and tyranny of a ruthless evil Witch. He didn't have respect for himself and didn't think he could change, but he made a complete turnaround because others believed in and supported him. Oz became a benevolent king who loved his people and assumed the serious stewardship over them.

President Thomas S. Monson gave a talk in the October 2012 General Conference called "See Others as They May Become" about the glorious things people can accomplish if they have someone who sees their true identity as children of God and encourages them to reach their divine potential.

"We need to be told that we amount to something, that we are capable and worthwhile. We need to be given a chance to serve...We need to bear in mind that people can change. They can put behind them bad habits. They can repent from transgressions...And they can serve the Lord diligently...we have the responsibility to see individuals not as they are but rather as they can become."

This talk was directed to the brethren about missionary work - converting nonmembers and reactivating wayward members - but I think it applies broadly to all of us, LDS or not.

I love the way the For the Strength of Youth pamphlet describes repentance:

"The Savior suffered for our sins and gave His life for us...Through the Atonement, you can receive forgiveness and be cleansed from your sins when you repent. Repentance is...a change of mind and heart. It includes turning away from sin and turning to God for forgiveness. It is motivated by love for God and the sincere desire to obey His commandments. Satan wants you to think that you cannot repent, but that is absolutely not true. The Savior has promised you forgiveness if you will humble yourself and make the effort that repentance requires." (emphasis added)

It's not a perfect analogy, but Oz reminded me of the beauty of repentance through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

2) GOODNESS vs. GREATNESS - Oz thought "greatness" (fame, wealth, and power) was more desirable than "goodness" (honesty, charity, loyalty, integrity, humility, etc.). But as he became the reluctant hero of the China Girl, the Good Witch, and her people, he realized he doesn't need to be a "great" magical wizard to save them, just a "good" man who brings out the best in them as they work towards a common cause. He became the leader they needed and wanted because they saw the potential within him. And finally, Oz realizes the "goodness" of his heart will bring more fulfillment and joy than the "greatness" he sought.

Those who seek "greatness" are driven by pride, as President Ezra Taft Benson explains in his famous "Beware of Pride" address -

"For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God." (John 12:43)

But God is ultimately the only being we need to please. And He knows better than anyone what our true, full potential is - it is glorious beyond description. It is much more important - essential, in fact - to develop "goodness" inwardly than to exude "greatness" outwardly. For -

"The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)

And if we prioritize and seek the "good", we will ultimately gain that which is "great"

"If thou wilt do good, yea, and hold out faithful to the end, thou shalt be saved in the kingdom of God, which is the greatest of all the gifts of God; for there is no gift greater than the gift of salvation." (D&C 6:13, emphasis added)

Christ doesn't just ask us to be good (Moroni 7 - search "good"), He asks us to be perfect (Matthew 5:48). But He doesn't expect us to obtain perfection instantly or permanently, much less in this life because even the Son of God had to grow into His full potential (D&C 93:11-13).

We can all develop this "goodness" -

"We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day." (Richard G. Scott, "The Transforming Power of Faith and Character")

Go see this movie. It is good.

Confessions of a Former Competitive Ballroom Dancer

I knew this time would come - the first National Amateur DanceSport Championships (big freakin' deal ballroom dance competition held at BYU every March) that I'm NOT competing in in 6 years. I knew when I competed in the Novice (samba/rumba) and Prechamp (samba/rumba/cha cha) International Latin categories in 2012 that it would likely be my last time because I was preparing to uproot my life in Provo, Utah and embark on a life-altering adventure in Washington, D.C.

Still, 6 years is a long time in a young person's life. I spent alot of time practicing and preparing for this event every year for the last quarter (1/4) of my life! I've competed in (for class and individually) waltz, foxtrot, quickstep, tango, paso doble, mambo, triple swing, West Coast swing, cha cha, rumba, samba, and bolero. I've also danced polka, hustle, and salsa; and performed Viennese Waltz, jive, and Lindy Hop. And now all of a sudden, I'm thousands of miles away...pining to be a part of the glamour, the talent, the beauty, and the inspiration again. The most I can get this year is thru snippets of videos and pics on Facebook from my friends who are still in the thick of it, or nearing the end of it and will soon be mourning with me. I knew I would be grateful for the hundreds of videos & pictures I painstakingly captured to record my whole journey.

Dancesport is only one part of the ballroom world I was immersed in at BYU. I took 27 credits of ballroom classes (and more of other kinds of dance) over my 5.5 years, TA'd 3 dance classes, performed on a team (there were 5 teams) for 7.5 semesters - including 3 company concerts and 3 Homecoming parades, and competed in 11 Dancesports (BYU and Nationals). I spent thousands of dollars on lessons, dress rentals, hair updos & stuff, shoes, jewelry, makeup, and competition fees. I spent hundreds of hours rehearsing, doing my hair & makeup, traveling to/from performances & competitions, and actually performing/competing. I had dozens of dance partners, made many acquaintances, and kept a few lifetime friends. This is all not to boast, but to reminisce. And also, in a way, to mourn.

Granted, I was never super good. I wasn't willing to pay the price to get to tour team, though I would have loved to be on it. I valued my education too much. American Studies was my major (I have aspirations to be a professor); Ballroom Dance was my minor. The numbers above seem minuscule compared to what some of my peers were willing to sacrifice to be a top ballroom dancer. Some have gone "pro" - meaning they make a living of rehearsing, competing, traveling, teaching, and performing. That sounds like a blast, but I also need more stability and a profession that allows me to indulge in my nerdy scholarly side (reading, writing, teaching). I often admire and envy my dance peers who go on to be super successful, but I have to remind myself that it was my CHOICE to leave the BYU world of ballroom I cherish.

I actually quit team 3 times. I got tired of the fakeness (love the glamour, hate the fake tans & nails), the drama and politics (it often seemed unfair why some people advanced in team and some didn't), the alienation (ballroom can get cutthroat; friendships can be superficial and temporary) the huge time commitment (hours spent preparing for a 4 minute routine performed a only couple times at the expense of sleep, homework, & friends), and the money sinkhole ("How are these $100's in lessons & dresses going to help my education, career, and future family?"). But I kept coming back to take classes, perform, and teach, because I realized there are parts of ballroom I crave in my life like I crave good jazz music or a warm embrace. I've written about it in many other posts, this insatiable yearning to move my body to music: "Why I Love Social Dancing", "Why I Dance" (2009), "Why I Dance" (2012).

But in the last year, I've come to the painful realization that I can never go back to that phase of my life at BYU when ballroom was so accessible, affordable, and all-consuming (see "Changes Not So Small" post). I HAVE to move on.

I'm grateful for the 7 years during which I was able to access so many opportunities to actively improve my ballroom skills. To add value to them, here's a list of what I've gained:

- ability to accept & apply constructive criticism to improve
- mind/body coordination - thus better self-discipline & self-control
- analogies of what a good marriage relationship should be like
- better time management skills
- learning how to sacrifice many things for a strongly desired goal
- confidence, poise & grace
- teamwork, with partners and team members
- learning to endure thru pain and exhaustion
- overcoming shyness and stage fright
- performance psychology
- deeper appreciation and respect for our bodies
- better understanding of our body mechanics (balance, weight distribution, flexibility, etc.)
- makeup & hair skills
- good sportsmanship & learning to be happy for - not jealous of - others
- controlling emotions & coping with disappointment
- maintaining humility with achievements
- inspiration to strive for excellence
- constantly pushing myself outside of my comfort zone
- exposure to and love for a wider variety of music
- better understanding of other cultures & time periods
- dance skills in 23 dances to teach and share with others

Ballroom dance was also one of the ways God brought me to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, along with gymnastics and choir. I met people through all these avenues who happened to be Mormon! Through their bright examples and warm fellowshipping, I was attracted to the Church and came to embrace the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for myself. Ballroom dance was a key part of my conversion story, as well as my BYU experience.

I never liked competing, but I ADORE performing and social dancing. I will probably not compete again, I will seize any opportunity to perform (i.e. church talent shows), and I will go social dancing as long as I can walk. My dance teachers tell me I will be surprised by the future occasions in which I will be called upon to use my dance skills. I'm looking forward to those; I love teaching.

Until then, I am trying to continue to challenge my body with new dance forms & genres. I get my regular "fix" through salsa dancing (because it's the most accessible), and occasionally some country, swing, and social ballroom (I prefer partner dances). I'm trying to stay in shape with pilates, weights, and ballet conditioning...because I want to always retain my "Dancer" identity by looking and feeling like a dancer (graceful, toned, strong, flexible). I am SO GRATEFUL for my body and what it can do if I push myself.

Basically, I'm trying to come to peace about the end of my ballroom career - not quite completely there yet. I don't ever want to forget that significant chapter of my life. But there is growth ahead. There is dancing in heaven! (there HAS to be - D&C 136:28) I may not be a ballroom dancer again in this life, but I will always be a dancer.