"You ain't never had a friend like me." Thoughts on the passing of Robin Williams

A lot has been said about the passing of Robin Williams.  A lot has subsequently been said about the issues of depression and suicide.

The only thing I feel about the situation is sad.  I didn't know the man, but many of us were touched growing up by his work.  And as an actor, I know many of us were inspired by his ability to be, well, such a character.  There was irony for me yesterday.  I went out to see Guardians and there was a trailer for the new "Night at the Museum" movie.  I was skeptical and thought it may end up being half-baked, but then I saw Robin as Teddy Roosevelt and remember specifically thinking, "Well, if he's still in it, at least parts of it will be good."  Only a few hours later, I read the news of what had happened not long before I saw that trailer.  So thank you sir.  Thank you for making me laugh as a child, and for inspiring me with interviews in which you rattled off 40 characters in a matter of minutes.  Thank you for Genie.  For Mrs. Doubtfire.  For Flubber.  Peter Pan.

As for the tumult over depression and suicide writhing around on the internet: Those of us who have had any dealings with those things, within our own lives or of those we know, know they are evil, devilish things.  Suicide is never the answer.  And depression is, by design, meant to be a crippling thing.  If you've dealt with it, you know how numbing it endeavors to be.  But the answer is never suicide.  Your life is worth abundantly more than you could ever know.  Robin's life was important, but in his last moments, that wasn't what was loudest in his head.  And that's so very sad.  But you, you need to always know that you are important and loved.  Suicide isn't the answer.  Jesus is.  

I try not to spend too much time on my facebook feed.  I see so much bad news.  Children being beheaded in middle east.  An actor's molestation charges in my trending topics.  People within my network saying they are giving up on live or love.  This whole world needs Jesus.  And these terrible things that happen, despite what anyone may tell you, have nothing to do with God.  They have to do with the devil, and people's free will and choices.

I've dealt with depression in the past.  For real.  But it's IN THE PAST.  And so I get up every day and I focus on the mandate to let God love me, and in turn, love people.  That's why I chose a word like "Reclaim".  That's why I want us to look forward.  That's why, despite what terrible news is pouring in from all over the world, I get up in the morning and call every day a good day for me.  That's why I want my life to be a reflection of blessings and not curses.  I want people to focus on life, not death.  I want us to know that we are important.  I don't want these things to happen anymore.

We also saw this with Philip Seymour Hoffman not long ago.  The pressures of the world that being "successful" didn't cure.  And now the world thinks that if you're a gifted individual, you're probably also self-destructive.  But that DOESN'T have to be true.  That's a lie that wants to perpetuate itself so that young gifted people will subconciously believe it about themselves.  Don't.  You don't have to crash.

I don't judge the man for his suicide.  People, don't fight amongst yourselves.  Don't devalue someone just because "they haven't been through depression so they don't know."  That may be true, and honestly it's a really valid point, but we also shouldn't act like we wish people would go through bad things so they would "understand".  

Celebrate the man's life.  But furthermore, have a life worth celebrating.  Be able to say, "You ain't never had a friend like me."

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