new church life: september/october 2014
Williams was praised for always being kind – even and especially to the “little
people” who serve others but are easily overlooked and underappreciated. He
gave generously of his time, energy and talent to troops overseas and children
in hospitals. But he made bad choices too. And even though he spread joy
everywhere he went, he was tormented by depression. His upbeat persona
belied a troubled life. If his death helps to shine a new light on depression
that would be a gift to all who suffer this debilitating disease – and would be
an illustration of the Lord’s providence, always bending bad situations toward
good.
Suicide is always a tragedy, whether we know the victims and families
or not. All we can hope is that those who were driven to it awaken to find
themselves engulfed in the sphere of a loving, merciful God – and that families
and friends will feel that healing love as well. Surely there is no escape in
suicide. These people still must work through their issues, but with the best
loving guidance anyone could hope for. Ultimately they will find their place in
heaven or hell – the home they have chosen.
Meanwhile, one message we can take from Williams’ own life and death
is the memorable mantra he offered his prep school class in the movie Dead
Poets Society: “Carpe diem.” Seize the day. Seize every day, knowing that our
choices and their consequences will play out to eternity.
(BMH)
what dreams may come
Robin Williams was not only a gifted comedian and actor who made us laugh;
he also made us think. He could have lived off his early success in comedy, but
showed himself to be a talented dramatic actor as well, exploring compelling
issues about life and meaning in such films as Awakenings, Patch Adams, Good
Will Hunting and Good Morning, Vietnam. One particularly significant movie
– enjoying renewed attention after his death – is What Dreams May Come.
It is one of Hollywood’s most surprising and insightful depictions of life
after death, and resonates especially with Williams actually experiencing now
what he once imagined in the film – which must have been something of a
déjà vu awakening. The movie is intensely spiritual and visually stunning.
Swedenborg often describes the beauty of heaven as ineffable – beyond the
power of words to describe – and these “dreams” depict scenes and color
almost beyond imagination.
It also has haunting echoes in Williams’ own troubled life and death.
In the movie he and his wife are devastated when their son and daughter
are killed in a car accident. Their marriage barely survives his wife’s depression,
but they are able to move on together. Then he dies in another car cr ash.
We see him awakening in the spiritual world, not sure where he is or that
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