Prayer for Robin Williams

Prayer for Robin Williams

I am grieving for a being who has lighted the world like few others, and who has gone off his Sacred Road this week, leaving a huge gap in our hearts. I am grieving for the actor, comedian and human being extraordinaire Robin Williams.

I never met him and he did not know I even existed; yet he touched me profoundly through his gift of storytelling as an actor. He touched me even deeper by his very presence; one of kindness, gentleness, compassion and joy-giving.

His Generous Spirit

Even when he was making jokes from everything, he was kind. Wherever there was a need, there he was donating, organizing support efforts and being a support in the lives of others. If you take 20 minutes today to find stories about him, you will see a trail of kindness. He gave scholarships to young people. He starred in the film of beginners, giving them the push to stardom.

“Robin Williams changed my life. He was a great actor and a generous person,” she wrote. “Through a scholarship, he made it possible for me to graduate college. His generous spirit will forever inspire me to support others as he supported me. He will forever be missed.” Jessica Chastain, 2-times Oscar  nominee

“From entertaining thousands of service men and women in war zones, to his philanthropy that helped veterans struggling with hidden wounds of war, he was a loyal and compassionate advocate for all who serve this nation in uniform. He will be dearly missed by the men and women of DOD, so many of whom were personally touched by his humor and generosity.” Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel

 “He was a good person. He really tried to make people feel better. I am really sad he is gone,” Buist said. “There is nothing like the power of laughter when you’re feeling bad, and I wish that worked for him as well.” David Buist.  [In 2001  David received a bleak diagnosis of hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma. He decided that he would help build a new Ronald McDonald house in New York before anything happened to him. He readhed to Robin Williams asking  for autographed memorabilia to help with the fund-raising effort. Williams did that and much more. He stayed in touch with David and called to cheer him up during his hospital stay. Buist is in remission today and happily married.]

Aaron Dworkin is the founder of the Detroit-based Sphinx Organization, which has won international acclaim for its landmark efforts to promote minorities in classical music. In 2005, Dworkin was awarded a prestigious $500,000 MacArthur Fellowship for his work. But if not for Williams,  Dworkin’s life would almost assuredly have turned out very differently. WHen Dworking was struggling and broke and could not go back to school because he owed to Penn State University, Williams gave them $10,000 to pay off their debt to Penn State and rescue their other loans from default. In subsequent years, Dworkin remained in touch with Williams, and the star made contributions to the Sphinx Organization through his foundation.

These are just some of the many stories of kindness, generosity, love and human support that form the radiant trail left by Robin in this world.

The Sad Clown

Robin Williams has also touched me by his great paradox: the joy-giver who is engulfed in deep pain. The old archetype of the sad clown is not just an archetype; it is the terrible truth of so many beautiful souls who make us laugh and inspire us to our best, who give generously to us and gift us with their talents; and yet struggle with a deep-seated pain they cannot shake off.

My prayer for Robin Williams today is this:

It is OK, dear brother, that you are at peace now. It is OK dear brother that you could no longer endure your pain and sought peace. It is OK dear brother that you decided to cut your stay short and go back home. This was your choice, and I honor it today, sending you my deepest gratitude for the joy, soul-deep humanity, compassion and kindness you showed all of us throughout your life. You did a good battle, and I honor this today.

I send you my love and I let go of these tears falling now from my eyes, —not in repression of the pain nor in judgment of it. I let go of these tears as my gift to you. I release this pain so that you can finally release yours. I release this pain because I am greater than this pain. You are right now back home, experiencing your own vastness. You are now in a place where you know that you are and always were so much, much greater than your pain —even when your pain was deeper and bigger than many could handle or even feel— for such was your Sacred Road.

A heart that big, with so much love and kindness, with so much in-depth compassion and humanity, had also to carry a deeper pain; for it all comes from the same source.

I release my tears in a loving, soft way for you today; for I choose to receive the joy you gave me and not to make the richness of your message less because you could not achieve the final victory in your Sacred Road.

Your endurance was of such quality that it outshines this instant of defeat. And even this defeat is short-lived in your infinity, for what lasts in your passage through this world is the immeasurable love and light you shed with us.

I can see you right now, looking at the worst, deepest, must excruciating pain that haunted you, slowly shaking your head, a gentle smile on your lips while you emit a soft shriek of joy —much like a dolphin— and say:

“This is the biggest joke of my life. That ocean of pain is not even a drop against the face of my vast Divine Self. How could it have pushed me over the deep end? That’s like throwing yourself off a cliff because a fly is chasing you!”

I’m glad that you can finally laugh at your pain, my sacred, beautiful brother. Your Sacred Road was both —radiant and rough. But it has come to an end. Your bliss is just beginning.

 

 

With great love, gratitude and respect, to one of the greatest creative geniuses of the 20th century and a being of great love and kindness, Robin Williams.

 

Light and love,

Maria Mar

The Dream Alchemist

 

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