HAIL TO DOROTHY!

(Movie spoiler alert.)

(Very cheesy alert.)

In third grade, my little group of friends and I won first place in our school’ s book character contest.

We chose The Wizard of Oz.

I’m not sure how I ended up being the wicked witch, but it was fun anyway.

Dorothy was always one of my favorite fictional characters.

Over the years, I have read about many saints canonized by the church; the stories fascinated me and I never really questioned their authenticity.

But I must confess, there are, I’m certain, many saints like Dorothy.

Saintly souls who, by simply being themselves, helped a lot of people along the way.

Judy Garland’s portrayal of one of the “pure in heart” was unforgettable.

The fiercely brave spirit that even apologizes for melting the witch.

She was just trying to get back home and help her traveling companions. The so- called wise leader in the land gave her a dangerous and unreasonable task.

The “pure in heart” often has no understanding of all the politics in the land, but always presses forward with an inward compass of pure motives; there is no desire to harm others, intentionally.

The ” Dorothy” saints of the world take many unplanned detours, that often involve helping a person, a cause, or an institution. And with no guarantee of a reward, or fair compensation.

They truly exist.

Folks that seek no deliberate harm to others. And, of course, to lesser creatures under their care.

We can’t forget the brave little Toto either!

( The poor Kansas farm family’ s lack of problem solving is another topic; the neighbor did have a point about the dog’s garden antics.)

Hail to all the Dorothys!

And their little dogs, too.