via Google Images CC
The Tin Man entered the orchard. He loved to clear the trees and leave the orchard in clean harmony. Even the trees agreed.
But then, the sky darkened, as always when the witch was about. Rain sheeted in smooth fall cross tin skin and in moments. Frozen.
A few days passed. The trees called to Tin Man. Restore order, they pleaded as foul rot seeped to soil. But Tin Man could not move. Why struggle?
The vile undergrowth stole deep to precious roots. A darkness crept within once hallowed trees as surely as witches desires. The Tin Man watched unmoving, but as he believed he had no heart, he did not struggle hard against the rust, rather mourned, inside.
And then, as always happens in such tales, a maiden of dawning virtue happened upon the Tin Man. Oil to joints long locked. A debt now owed and honor bound to repay. The darkness to be cleared as the rust.
On the journey he would discover the error of miss-held belief. While watching the flying monkeys carry away his maiden, Tin Man felt something stir inside. Loss. A touch of despair. Heart is not an object, but rather a presence within oneself which one chooses to express or not. Raising ax sharpened with epiphany, Tin Man helped change the world, at least for one fair maiden. And is that not the point of heart?
The story of the Tin Man is one of my favorites and has been since childhood. One of the joys of growing up in the 70’s – all the cool, and oft bizarre, television shows. It was always the “epics,” catching me up in a whirlwind story powered by visceral creatures and characters, that would resonate into dreams and play.
photo by brittgow, via Flickr CC
I’m sure we’ve all experienced moments of frozen loss as the Tin Man above. I know I have. Sometimes it depends on the day of the week. Things intrude and we are caught in the whirlwind of life’s witch storm. However, unlike the Tin Man, we do not have to wait for a lovely maiden to wander by and apply the oil. All we need to is have heart and break free.
The important thing is to move again. Struggle against the rust that builds. Break free. Swing the ax. Discover your heart.
This is the Writing Resource I have today. Next week, the list will return. Peaceful Journeys.
Gene Lempp ~ Writer 
LOVE today’s post, Gene! Thank you for the desperately needed push to break free and move forward. 😀
Always welcome. Glad you enjoyed and found it useful 🙂
Happy you are back.
Did you ever see the TV special Dreamer of Oz starring John Ritter? I always liked that one about Frank L. Baum and how he came up with the characters of Oz. I wonder if you could find it at the library. Cool post, Gene, the Tin Man is one of my faves too.
Karen: Thank you 🙂
Jess: I have not seen that, but will look for it. I love when writers discuss how they created, always useful advice to be had in the discussion. Thanks for the tip 🙂
Thanks for this timely, inspiring post, Gene! I’ve been thinking about the Wizard of Oz today–within the last few hours, actually. 🙂 I really dig this change of pace!
Glad to hear from you, my friend. Rust may never sleep, but it also isn’t permanent unless you allow it to be.
August: Somehow the Wizard of Oz is always floating around in the back of my mind. Glad to find a fellow spirit 🙂
John: Well said, sir!
Oh wow, that was cool. I love the Wizard of Oz. One of my all time favorites. I shall never see the Tin Man in the same light again, given your narrative above. It was a beautiful tribute to having heart and tin men everywhere.
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt.
I love this post, Gene. I, too, am an Oz fan. Just bought Baum’s whole collection for my Kindle, a steal of a price when the new Oz movie came out. Once upon a time when I’d get plastered every now and then in my younger days, I’d always sing the songs from The Wizard of Oz. I love the Tin Man, too (more so after this post), but I’ve always related more to the Scarecrow. If I Only Had a Brain…