Verse
I don't usually blog about celebrities or celebrity deaths, but I feel compelled to write something about Robin Williams.
Problem is...I don't know what to write.
Apple has been using Williams' line from Dead Poet's Society in their advertising recently, so every once in a while you hear his voice asking, "What will your verse be?"
It's a good question, one that ought to cause us all to think—not necessarily about iMacs and iPads, but about our lives. What will your verse in the song of life be?
I've enjoyed many of Robin Williams' efforts to entertain us all. I remember when he was Mork from Ork. I still think his role of Genie in Aladdin makes the movie work. I can't imagine anyone else really playing that role (and I've always wondered how many hours of material was left on the cutting room floor from his ad libs). So many others roles throughout the years...Patch Adams, Mrs. Doubtfire, and of course the aforementioned Dead Poet's Society. He was an extremely talented man who could make us laugh and cry and think and dream. I even enjoyed his latest attempt at television, The Crazy Ones, though I was apparently one of the few who did.
Fame, fortune, success, adoration by millions of fans...and it wasn't enough to keep at bay the demon of depression that he finally succumbed to. Depression may be one of the last afflictions we still aren't comfortable talking about or acknowledging. I was "accused" early on in my ministry of being insensitive to those who are struggling with depression, and I came to realize what was really happening was that I was uncomfortable talking about it, as are most people I know.
Ironically, we can talk about addiction—any kind of addiction—these days and help people find treatment for that. But when someone is depressed, seriously really depressed (not just a little discouraged by circumstances), we don't know what to do or what to say. So we say nothing. And when that depression leads, as it did in Williams' case, to suicide, people may talk about it briefly and then return to "normal life."
We can't do that. Depression and suicide affect far more people than "just" the one who is struggling. As followers of Jesus, we have an obligation to stand by those who are going through deep, dark valleys. We do not have the right to condemn them or to tell them to "get it together" or "move on" or whatever other trite saying we might use. We need to surround them with the love of Jesus and walk with them through the valley of the shadow of death. This faith we claim is not just for happy days and happy people. This faith we claim must embrace people especially when they are going through difficult days and help them find the light of Christ. (I write this to remind myself again...if it reminds you, too, then I'm glad.)
What will your verse be? May our "verse" in life be one that sings to those who are struggling and walks with them to the day when they can sing, "It is well with my soul." Jesus was in the business of healing, and so should we be. So must we be.
Wow...that was a lot for not knowing what to say.
Problem is...I don't know what to write.
Apple has been using Williams' line from Dead Poet's Society in their advertising recently, so every once in a while you hear his voice asking, "What will your verse be?"
It's a good question, one that ought to cause us all to think—not necessarily about iMacs and iPads, but about our lives. What will your verse in the song of life be?
I've enjoyed many of Robin Williams' efforts to entertain us all. I remember when he was Mork from Ork. I still think his role of Genie in Aladdin makes the movie work. I can't imagine anyone else really playing that role (and I've always wondered how many hours of material was left on the cutting room floor from his ad libs). So many others roles throughout the years...Patch Adams, Mrs. Doubtfire, and of course the aforementioned Dead Poet's Society. He was an extremely talented man who could make us laugh and cry and think and dream. I even enjoyed his latest attempt at television, The Crazy Ones, though I was apparently one of the few who did.
Fame, fortune, success, adoration by millions of fans...and it wasn't enough to keep at bay the demon of depression that he finally succumbed to. Depression may be one of the last afflictions we still aren't comfortable talking about or acknowledging. I was "accused" early on in my ministry of being insensitive to those who are struggling with depression, and I came to realize what was really happening was that I was uncomfortable talking about it, as are most people I know.
Ironically, we can talk about addiction—any kind of addiction—these days and help people find treatment for that. But when someone is depressed, seriously really depressed (not just a little discouraged by circumstances), we don't know what to do or what to say. So we say nothing. And when that depression leads, as it did in Williams' case, to suicide, people may talk about it briefly and then return to "normal life."
We can't do that. Depression and suicide affect far more people than "just" the one who is struggling. As followers of Jesus, we have an obligation to stand by those who are going through deep, dark valleys. We do not have the right to condemn them or to tell them to "get it together" or "move on" or whatever other trite saying we might use. We need to surround them with the love of Jesus and walk with them through the valley of the shadow of death. This faith we claim is not just for happy days and happy people. This faith we claim must embrace people especially when they are going through difficult days and help them find the light of Christ. (I write this to remind myself again...if it reminds you, too, then I'm glad.)
What will your verse be? May our "verse" in life be one that sings to those who are struggling and walks with them to the day when they can sing, "It is well with my soul." Jesus was in the business of healing, and so should we be. So must we be.
Wow...that was a lot for not knowing what to say.
Comments
Post a Comment