Blog 2887 – 09.25.2023

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz – Chapter 8

The title of today’s chapter is The Guardians of the Gate. In the stories Saint Peter is the guardian of the gate of heaven challenging anyone who might enter. That is a job that the impetuous Peter before he was humbled by three times denying his Lord might have sought out, but I have a hard time thinking a wiser Peter would have wanted such a position.

Actually though I do believe that there is a life after this one I no longer think of heaven as a walled city requiring guards to keep out anyone. I prefer C.S. Lewis’s idea of heaven depicted in his little book The Great Divorce. It is a place that instead of guards to keep anyone out there is a personal welcoming committee sent to talk visitors into staying.

After their long and perilous journey to Oz Dorothy and friends eventually are welcomed inside, but only after being challenged. I have in the past heard more than one person say that their back-up retirement plan was to become a Walmart greeter. I think they did away with that position some years ago in favor of hiring uniformed guards instead. No welcome, and having to stand in line to check yourself out, definitely no one’s idea of heaven or even the Emerald City of Oz.

Your friend and fellow traveler,

David White

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dvmbbvNEYLEV84VOIRQoFo2IqeiYXrkC/view?usp=drivesdk

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz – Chapter 8