Follow the yellow brick road

By Kaylin Martin
Cardinal Staff

Brother Frederick C. Mueller, FSC, a leader in the Lasallian community, spoke to the undergraduate class at Saint Mary’s annual convocation on Sept. 11.

Using a combination of quotes from Ralph Waldo Emerson, personalities of “The Wizard of Oz,” and real life Lasallian stories, Brother Frederick was able to captivate the audience and present four areas of challenge in which students can spread their wings: scholarship, character, leadership and service.

“He modeled all that we hope to be the hallmark of a Saint Mary’s education,” said Mary Fox, Ph.D., a professor at Saint Mary’s. “Lasallian values, the development of ‘critical consciousness,’ passion for ‘simple, clear, direct, action’ as means of ‘living what you believe,’ scholarship as a way of ‘making meaning out of chaos,’ and most important of all, a sense of each person’s unique God-given destiny.”
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Brother Frederick began by telling a story of an eagle who grew up with chickens, thought he was a chicken, and died a chicken; an eagle that never thought he could be anything but what his surroundings would let him. He asked SMU students to take themselves out of their surroundings and away from other people’s expectations in order to “soar like an eagle.”

Using the Scarecrow from the “Wizard of Oz” as an example, Br. Frederick warned against being a mirrored thinker. Scholarship is not accumulated information, but the process of logic and using imagination, he said, and one must have the ability to look at life and culture and be able to think independently.

“The first challenge is to use your mind,” said Brother Frederick. He added that one must develop a critical consciousness to be a scholar and to be a true Lasallian.

Brother Frederick presented his second challenge, quoting Emerson: “Character is higher than intellect. A great soul will be strong to live as well as think.” The Tin Man found a heart and defended what he believed in, even when his tears threatened further rusting, he said.

You need to live what you believe in, said Bother Frederick, to be an eagle, to be a Lasallian.

“Fear always springs from ignorance,” said Br. Frederick. He challenged students to be like the Courageous Lion and have hope; one person can make a difference.

“Would you dare look danger eye-to-eye,” Brother Frederick said, “and still hope to be a leader?”

He addressed the last of his challenges using Dorothy, the most prominent character in “The Wizard of Oz,” as a person of service. She is on a quest to go home, find out who she is, and spread her wings, said Brother Frederick, though she puts her deepest desires aside and helps her friends. Through her serving, he explained, Dorothy finds her dreams and reaches for the rainbow.

“We must come home to our deepest selves by serving as wounded healers,” said Brother Frederick.

He concluded his address with words of encouragement to the student body. “You are eagles; you are young Lasallians,” said Brother Frederick, “May you ever believe more deeply in your lives, to hope, to heal. You are this world’s best hope. You are this world’s only hope.”