The Wizard of Oz books by L. Frank Baum have a lot to teach us about life. We should take a moment to think about those lessons.

My new book, “The Lost Wizard of Oz” presents Glinda the Good Witch of the South, as powerful, compassionate, dedicated to her cause—everything Mr. Baum wanted her to be, and yet she still has some things to learn. Like everybody else, she can become more than she is.

Question: Why is everything so hard?

Here’s a question for you: Why didn’t the Good Witch just tell Dorothy how to use the magic slippers to take her home in the first place? It would have been much easier on her. There are a lot of answers to this question. Here are three:

First, her new friends needed help. Dorothy’s friends; the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Cowardly Lion; would have been left where they were in frustration and despair if she had not come their way. Now they are free, happy, and productive.

Second, the Wonderful Land of Oz needed help. In just a few short weeks, this little girl disposed of the two most dreadful witches in Oz. What a blessing for the Munchkins and the Winkies! Also, think of all the good the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Cowardly Lion were able to do throughout the Land of Oz because they happened to bump into a little girl from Kansas.

Third, Dorothy wouldn’t have learned anything. If she had not traveled to and through Oz, she would never have realized how strong she really was or could become. Just as importantly, she would have gone right back to Kansas without learning how precious her family was to her. This is the real point of the story.

Life is often like that. We have to go through hard times to grow and become better people.

What about the Good Witch?

Here’s another question for you: Why didn’t the Good Witch go with Dorothy on her quest?

Well, the answer is that she didn’t need to learn anything…at the time.

But now is a different time. Now is the time for Glinda to learn a few things and grow a little along the way. We don’t usually think of Glinda as needing anything. After all, Mr. Baum’s “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” presents Glinda as the most powerful, intelligent, beautiful, and beloved person in Oz. How can you improve on that?

Everybody needs something, or maybe somebody?

Glinda has protected the Land of the Quadlings (the southern portion of Oz) for five hundred years, all by herself. Sometimes she travels around the Land of Oz with a few friends helping out where she can. But friends, even good ones, aren’t exactly family. In the end, she always goes home alone. At times, her loneliness gets the better of her.

I invite you to read “The Lost Wizard of Oz” and join Glinda on her latest quest to save Oz. Who knows, maybe she will learn something herself.