Dead Poets Society

What a wonderful film - the old ones are always the best. If you've not seen it before then, "seize the day!", and go and hire it from your local video store.

It does tackle some fairly grave themes, although, the overall message is quite positive - think outside the box - live life to the max and don't worry about what other, small-minded folk think...it certainly inspired me anyway!

The film portrays fear as a killer, a killer that destroys creativity, passion and free thinking; eventually sucking every ounce of life out of us if we're not careful.

The way the students are liberated from this fear by Mr Keating (the teacher played by Robin Williams) reminds me of my own experience of getting to know Jesus Christ.

In the film, Mr Keating encourages his students to embrace life, think for themselves and conquer their fears, which is similar to what I've experienced God doing in my life over the last 9 years. He has encouraged me not to conform to what I see around me, but to look at things through different eyes - through His eyes - and by turning my world around, He has shown me a completely new perspective; one of true life, true love and true humanity.

Of course thinking and living outside the box often means being misunderstood and wrongly accused, as the film so clearly illustrates.

Never-the-less, I for one, don't want to live half-heartedly and end up becoming food for the worms, (as Mr Keating so eloquently puts it!) without at least attempting to become the person I was created to be.

No, I'd rather be in the "Carpe deim!" camp, laughing at fear, daring to really live and hopefully, discovering what it really means to be human.