Midweek Moment

I am sure many of you have heard the sad and tragic news about the passing of Robin Williams. We have all encountered Robin in various ways from the voice of the Genie in Disney’s Aladdin; to the crazy lovable alien in Mork and Mindy; to some of his stand-up comedy. He was wildly enthusiastic and incredibly over the top. But one of my favorite roles that Robin portrayed was that of Mr. John Keating in the movie, Dead Poet’s Society.

There was a moment where he huddles his students around him and begins speaking to them about the passion and romance of poetry. He talks about the professions that are needed to sustain life, medicine, law, engineers; but he tells them poetry and its passion is why we live. He quotes Walt Whitman, "O me! O life... of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless... of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?" Mr. Keating’s answer to that question is, “That you are here - that life exists, an identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. That the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?”

That moment is one that struck me when I first watched this movie. That question is one that I continue to ask myself to this day. What will my verse be in this powerful play of life?

We each have people we interact with, we each have people we live life amongst, and that means we each contribute our own verse to this powerful play. As we speak, as we live, as we judge, and as we dismiss; we each contribute a verse. What will your verse be?

Will you dismiss or will you love, will you tear down or will you build, will you affirm or will you diminish? We each have a power, a responsibility as Disciples of Christ to make sure our actions and words reflect the qualities Christ modeled here on Earth. We each have an incredible power to contribute a verse. My invitation for you this week is to consider your verse, to remember your influence, and to encourage you to be God’s love to another.

When we live as Christ lived, love as Christ loved, our verse will build a Kingdom like none other. Our verse will break the bonds of time and unleash the power of God’s love and we will transform this world!

Have a great week and I will see you Sunday!