he has died. A spiritual guide introduces him to this new world – reminiscent
of Virgil guiding Dante through Inferno, Purgatory and Paradise in The Divine
Comedy.
Williams tries desperately to communicate with his devastated wife but
cannot. He takes comfort in knowing that eventually she will join him in heaven.
Meanwhile – with a note of irony that resonates today – his inconsolable wife
commits suicide and winds up in hell.
Williams insists on being allowed to go into hell and risk his soul to save
the woman he loves. He finds her there and tries to convince her of the truth
he has found, so that she may be released from the darkness where she has
imprisoned herself.
Who knows how much this experience both haunted Williams and gave
him hope in his own depression, or how much it may help others to find that
hope – to form an image of heaven and to find their way?
What dreams may come indeed.
(BMH)
what will your verse be?
One of my favorite Robin Williams’ role was the passionate English teacher
he portrayed in Dead Poets Society, lighting a fire for poetry, beauty and the
meaning of life in the privileged students of an elite prep school.
In one memorable scene, he stirs the boys’ imaginations by telling them
that we do not read and write poetry just because it is “cute,” but because it is
all about being part of the human race and the roiling passions played out on
the stage of life.
He offers the inspiration: “The power of the play goes on. And you may
contribute a verse.”
And after letting the thought sink in, he challenges them: “What will your
verse be?”
Everyone has favorite poems and verses that inspire, comfort and speak
to longings of the soul. But how about verses in the Word? What would you
contribute to “the power of the play”?
Here is one favorite familiar verse from the Word:
“He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require
of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”
(Micah 6: 8)
And a less familiar verse from the Bible: “Let no evil talk come out of your
mouth, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your
words may give grace to those who hear.” (Ephesians 4: 29)
(BMH)
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