Do I have a Wonderful Life?

Christmas Traditions

I’m sure you have a lot of your own Christmas traditions, maybe you open presents on Christmas Eve, maybe you get up early on Christmas morning and bake something special for the whole family. One of our yearly traditions in our young family has been to watch It’s a Wonderful Life, on Christmas Eve while we make our special Christmas cookies. Many people have mixed views on this movie, some believe its a classic, some don’t like the movie one bit. I’ll be honest, its probably just one of my favorite movies period, but let me tell you some ways this movies reminds me every year to be healthy and whole.

SPOILER ALERT: I will be talking about the entire plot and conclusion of the movie It’s a Wonderful Life. If you haven’t seen this movie that has been out for about a hundred years…then go watch it then read this, or just read this anyway cause it shouldn’t be too confusing.

The Obvious Truth

George Bailey is surrounded by people that love him. He has an enviably life full of relationships that encourage his worth as a person, so why was he so distraught? To many people this story either seems totally ridiculous, or too close to home. The fact is if our life hasn’t gone to what we believe is the perfect plan, no matter how great so many aspects can be, we will be bent toward apathy and depression. The “what if’s” are burying George. Since his youth, George decided that there was only one path of significance, being an world traveler and important architect. Everything else would always pale in comparison.

I have made this mistake more times than I can count. I have chosen a “correct” path for my life, and when this expectation not met, disillusionment is the only outcome. Its common for unmet expectations to crush our spirits. We have an event we assumed would be amazing and no one shows up. When I plan out my life, I miss the joys of what is already happening.

Every year I’m reminded to not lose myself in my plans for life. I’m only in control of a few things, most of which is my attitude about what my life actually is, I learn from George to just put less hopes in the plans of my life and more significance with the reality of my life.

The Belief in a Lie

George Bailey has some unfortunate events happen, his coworker and uncle loses thousands of dollars, putting the business and their lives in danger of fraud, bankruptcy and possibly prison. In a series of events he ends up at the enemy of his business and better judgment, Potter, the local rich scrooge-like character. Its in this office that George makes the worst mistake of all, believing the bitter lies from the pit of hell, that he is worth more dead than alive and that if his friends knew the truth about him, they would throw him right out of town.

These two lies I think represent some of the most pertinent lies we can believe on a daily basis. First, its that the people in our life would be better without us. This lie gives the next act of the movie its form, letting George see what the lives of those he loves would be like without him. Our impact is not based upon what we can see in the lives of those around us, whether through the lens of our best day or our worst.

As a pastor, I ALWAYS struggle with looking for my significance in my impact upon those around me. I want to know I’m being used by God, but then I can put my worth in what I see as usefulness in other’s lives. This is beyond dangerous, because as George finds out, our impact is often so far beyond what we can see, our life has endless connections with people around us. As a Christian, I believe that God is using all things in my life for my betterment and for the growth of others.

Second, is the lie that is even more toxic, that if our secret was out we would be hated by those closest to us. This isn't to say that this isn't true, we might share dark secrets that bring about shame to the wrong people and we receive grief for this honesty. However, if we are surrounded by true friends, a true body of Christ as Christians, our honesty should be rewarded with offerings of forgiveness and a hand held out to pick us up.

Don’t believe the lie that your pain is better used in private, that your hurt is better healed in silence. Find someone that exudes the love of Christ, and share with them, ask those that love you to walk through the dark with you. We are meant for community, and as George found out, there were far more people that wanted to walk with him in his trial than there were those that wanted to joyously condemn him.

The Hope of Vindication

The end of the movie has an emotional conclusion, after George realizes that he has so much to live for in his family, and that those around him would be impacted by his sudden nonexistence. George accepts his fate of going into debt or jail happily, then its at this point that the whole town comes to together and donates more than enough money to get George out of debt. It’s here that George and his wife read a message from his guardian angel, “Remember no man is a failure who has friends.”

This movie doesn’t make you have to think about the point its trying to get across. It boldly states it in that quote. Don’t value your life in the wrong things, don’t believe the lies of the enemy and don’t forget to see what you already have, everything you could ever need in Christ.