Dead Poets Society

In the 80's, Peter Weir produced a film that would profoundly affect my life. This film was entitled "Dead Poets Society" and it would also be the film that put a younger Robin Williams on the map as a dramatic actor. Williams plays a prep school English teacher who teaches his students to basically think for themselves and live life as an adventure. I suppose that the most memorable quote from this film is "Carpe diem," or "Seize the day."

The term Dead Poets Society actually refers to a group that Williams' character started when he was a schoolboy. He and his pals would gather in a cave at night to read poetry from...wait for it...dead poets such as Walt Whitman and Robert Frost. They would then use this poetry to inspire them to "suck the marrow out of life" and live each day as if it were their last.

I was only a young boy when I first saw this film, but it automatically inspired me. For years afterwards, I would always think to myself that I could just do something the way that people wanted and simply get by...or I could strive for something greater. I could let every opportunity in my life just pass me by or I could grab those opportunities with both hands and literally "seize the day."

When I think back on "Dead Poets Society," I see that its content is literally a message that I would see everyone follow as if it were gospel. Never settle for a meagre existence. Always strive for what you feel is right and true and beautiful. Jesus suggested that a house built on rock would be a hard and difficult path and I believe that the pursuit of beauty, truth, and adventure can be like that, but he also sugtgested that in the end, this house would stand the storms of time, and it would not be washed away.

So I say take the hard path; seize the day; don't let your life be washed away in complacency; and always think to yourself "That you are here - that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse." What will your verse be?