Monday, August 18, 2014

8/18/14

One week ago comedian-actor Robin Williams took his own life, at age 63, by hanging himself with a belt.  He had suffered from recurring bouts of depression exacerbated by both cocaine and alcohol addiction over many years… and a more recent diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.  Shock and grief have been expressed by moviegoers and pop-culture aficionados far and wide.  What can only be described as ‘an avalanche of accolades’ has been heaped on him posthumously, coming in from throughout the nation.  The Hollywood community weighed in saying, “He is surely in heaven now, making God laugh.”  [Seriously?] Even President Obama took the time to publish an articulate 120-word tribute to the man known for his quick wit and comedic voices. Robin William’s virtue is being extolled by many.  And what is that virtue?  Well, mostly he made people laugh…out there in TV land, or on the big screen, or in live stage performances often laced with profanity [not a criticism, just a fact].  Occasionally he leveraged his fame to entertain troops or hospital patients.  In short, his life purpose was to amuse people [again…not a criticism, just a fact].
 
I cannot help but compare the national grief for Robin Williams’ death by suicide, reported in the media, with the complete lack of national mourning over the Iranian-American pastor presently jailed in Iran for his faith.  Saeed Abedini, the 32-year-old U.S. citizen, has been imprisoned in Iran, under the harshest of conditions, since September 2013.  He has been denied bail as he awaits medical treatment for serious injuries and internal bleeding sustained from brutal beatings.  His wife and two pre-school children have been pleading for the release of their husband and daddy, the victim of what can only be called gross injustice.  Someone has wisely said, “What you laugh about and what you cry about is an indicator of who/what you are on the inside.”   

We should delight in the things that delight the Lord.  And our hearts should break for the same things that break God’s great heart.   
 
Pray with me… Father, as we live day by day, may we value what you value, love what you love and celebrate that which honors you, above all else.  Make us deeper people, more serious about the things that matter most… increasingly unimpressed with the world and the things that are in the world.  In Jesus’ name,  Amen.

Blessings,
Pastor Ken

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