Judy Garland

Judy Garland, (1922-1969) named Frances Ethel Gumm at birth, was a movie star as a child, and she was known for her starring role in the Wizard of Oz which she did when she was seventeen years old. She was always asked to sing the song, Somewhere Over the Rainbow whenever she made a public appearance.

America loved it then, and they love it now, in fact, in 2001, the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts rated the song Number 1, in the Song of the Century Project. Throughout her whole life, Judy Garland, who's now deceased, was a huge superstar in the mind of the American public. She was even ranked Number 6 in the list of the Greatest Female Movie Stars of all time by the American Film Institute.

People loved the song and they loved Judy Garland too. Unfortunately, off camera and off of Broadway, she led a rather unstable life. Not only was she married five times, but her life, as a “movie star” was often in turmoil. She was wealthy, made a lot of money making movies, she was famous, had personality and was lovely to behold. She could have everything she would ever want or need. Unfortunately, like so many other human made, bright and shining “stars,” like Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, John Belushi, Margaux Hemmingway, Jimi Hendrix, River Phoenix, and Kurt Cobain, her life ended tragically due to drug abuse.

Drugs abuse may look, even feel like harmless fun. For some people, it a way to be different from the expected norm, a way to be “cool,” nonchalant about life or even brave. Some people get involved in the drug scene to make friends, make extra cash by selling or just to boldly have some outlandish extravagant psychedelic experience. Drugs, however are not harmless and real addiction that sucks the life out of you, is never "fun."

For the user, drug use, even done legally by prescription, appears as an easy way to make it from point A to B with less distress in a hectic day, a way to get away from physical or psychological pain. Drug abuse and over, even when it is legally distributed does come with side effects, and the hope or maybe excitement they offer is totally temporary,. Drugs are alluringly deceptive, so much so that use easily leads to abuse and abuse, as we have seen in the many deaths through the years, often ends in overdose.

Swept away from reality and into another world, a land somewhere over a rainbow state of mind, life with drugs is never really is what it seems to be. It's like being in the calm eye within a storm, you know, a place where the user feels comfortable, but in reality they have absolutely no idea about the velocity of the pending disaster swirling around them; everything from their perspective seems just fine. They believe they are in control and can better weather their life from this new, calm perspective, not even realizing that they are deeply embedded in a dangerous place, maybe even somewhere on the darker, wilder side of life. Before they know it, a whirlwind hits and in an instant their life is whisked away.

Some make it back home after a storm, but most do not. Those that do, wake up in a shattered world and the wreckage left behind is often very great. The person they, in the mirror is often one they barely recognize. The magic and wonder of life seems to be gone and they are damaged and broken, often feeling alone and in despair Without hope they often find themselves seeking solace from drugs to escape the harshness of reality once again.

People need hop. This is why they need Jesus. He is hope and he is more powerful than any drug. He calms the raging sea, heck, He even walks on water.

Judy Garland touched the heart of millions with her beautiful voice, her charm and her radiant beauty, but even she was caught up in a terrible raging storm. Overcome by clouds of darkness and despair, she was trapped in pain and anguish and then became hooked on drugs. Her adoring audience, onlookers to her very tragic end were filled with grief when they heard that such a lovely lady as she had come to such a tragic end.

One can only hope, that through it all, she somehow believed the rainbow of God's promise.