EVERY YEAR, with few exceptions, I rewatch, “It’s a Wonderful Life” as part of my personal Christmas/New Year celebration. I have heard criticisms of the movie—even my family tends to groan and roll their eyes (all in good fun) each time I tease that they should watch it with me. I’m quite aware it’s “ancient,” and I understand that when it debuted (1946) it was not as popular as it eventually became. So I usually (but not this year) wait until I’m alone to drop it in the BluRay.
Oh MY, how the world has changed since the day that movie appeared! The cycles of anger, violence, lawlessness, and meanness grow and fade, but return even uglier the next time, from sea to shining sea. Even leaders of world governments who claim they want unity do little to prove it. Unfortunately, that includes the USA. Culturally, America is far, far different than the fiercely nationalistic republic we were during, and shortly after, World War II.
Now we sense almost constant unrest, see destructive ideas played out before us, and malice portrayed as though it were mercy. And thus, appreciation for human life continues to plummet. That fact makes me scratch my head since WE are living humans. I believe we should think long and hard about our attitudes toward unborn humans, whether we are "religious" or not. We must relearn to THINK and show more respect for the creation we live in and the creatures all around us.
Ironically, we may have been given a great opportunity! Will we take it? I sure hope so.
We may not be able to change the world, or even heal our own country by ourselves, but that doesn't mean we can't decide to change ourselves, our lives, our attitudes into the best version of what we can be, right?! We can change our world.
I use It’s A Wonderful Life as a backdrop because that old flick speaks of what is most important: to follow a code of integrity as our life's guiding compass. Amid other lessons played out are that every person, including each of us, matters. Though the character of George Bailey sacrificed much and was a really good guy, he allowed tough circumstances to hijack his judgement, and lost sight of the value of his own life.
But I hope, like George in the final scenes we can proclaim with our whole being, “I want to live again!” God says life will happen when we learn to “give it away.” It is in giving that we receive. In living a sacrificial lifestyle that we realize a life of wealth. In lifting up OTHERS that we find the essence of the treasure stored in ourselves.
Remember, we are IN the world but we are certainly NOT to be of it.
The flawed interactions of daily life urge us to covet and steal for ourselves. To hate. To fear. To demand. To accuse. To push others down in order to hide our own deep flaws.To be disagreeable. Cause pain. To use whatever minuscule piece of power we may possess to oppress or burden our fellow travelers. To let our anger burn out of control. Then we always see examples of those who justify all these actions as, “I did what I had to do.”
Those things are neither for me nor my friends! We seek to extend grace when we are wronged. Forgive. Show kindness when others hate. Bring the light of love where there is fear. Lift others at every opportunity. Yield our power to The One who owns it. Share our lives with those who need it.
If we don’t decide to live by a better code, we will fail our mission. In the movie, George’s dad, Peter, has the sweet reminder (or is it a warning) written on a plaque in his office.
It defines our mission in a nutshell. Though it sounds simple, it requires spiritual help.
Watch carefully, as it appears then quickly vanishes from the screen. “All you can take with you is that which you’ve given away.” A cup of cold water, the "shirt off your back" for one who has none, kindness, a smile, a gentle word, or to give your time to a soul living in prison—even if it's in their own mind. Never forget why we're here, and live a wonderful life.
©️ 2020 revised 2021, 2022, Gary Landerfelt MyPericope.com
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