The Lens:
Where do stand on the “like” meter for “It’s a Wonderful Life?” For the last many years, The Stanford Theatre, a classic movie theater in Palo Alto, CA, has shown the movie on Christmas Eve. The theatre seats close to 1,200 and the event sells out quickly. That may not be a scientific approach to gauging the movie’s popularity, but it is popular.I watch it every year. It has become one of my holiday traditions. On the “like” meter, with 1 being “hate” and 10 being “love,” I am probably at a 7. I am a sucker for the sentiment expressed in the movie. My family’s love of the movie is varied. My husband is probably a 7, too. My youngest son is definitely a 1 (maybe a 0).
The movie certainly has its flaws. As much as I enjoy watching the movie, it is painful to watch George’s spirit die little by little, year after year, putting the needs of others before his own.
On the other hand, this is one of the more salient themes of the movie – putting others before yourself. It isn’t like he is torn between the age-old dilemma of pleasing himself and pleasing his parents. The well-being of the people in the entire town rests on his shoulders. With one exception, his choices are about his wants versus the survival of others. In only one instance his choice between the two is what he wants – he chooses Mary over his desire to travel.
At the core of the movie is an echo of my belief that we do not live in isolation. Our actions have an impact on others. In our individualistic society, we want to disregard this notion or choose to believe that we are more important than our impact on others. We go through our lives touching (and sometimes battering) other people and, often, have no idea the trail of happiness or despair we leave behind.
George receives the gift of seeing his trail. He sees how all the sacrifices he made, big and small, affected the people of Bedford Falls. He sees clearly that, without him, his family, his friends, and the people of Bedford Falls would all lead wretched lives. He sees his worth. He sees the meaning of his existence. And, it is magnificent.
The Refraction:
Still, there is this nagging thought that it’s not George’s life that is wonderful. The lives of those around him are the ones that wonderful because of him.
That is just one of many talking points around this movie.
Another: Even when George sees the glory in the difference he has made, he spent all those previous years of his life in misery. His happiness does not erase that. It only changed his outlook going forward.
But, the biggest problem I have with the movie (all of these which influence my rating of 7) is that George loses faith. And, he never regains it.
Toward the end of my mom’s life, she really struggled. She was an extremely independent person. She had severe osteoporosis. Her mobility was in decline and she was often in pain. When her pain was great or she was having a hard time recovering from surgeries, she would slip into depressions, sometimes minor, sometimes worrisome.
I also wonder if she was struggling with her legacy. I think she knew somewhere deep down, that she was coming to her end. She seemed restless.
Mom was fairly religious. I wrote a note to her during this time which said: “I had a thought I thought I might share with you. As we get older, we wonder what might have been. We only know what is and what was. In ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ George receives the gift of learning what might have been. This is not something that will happen in real life. If ever we find out, it will be in our afterlife. So, we live not knowing what God’s plan is for us, and knowing we may never know what that plan might be. Isn’t that what having faith is all about?”
George didn’t regain his faith. He was given the answer. That bothers me.
I am considerably younger than Mom was when she died and I have started to struggle myself with my legacy. I see what others around me have accomplished and I wonder what am I not doing that I should be?
I believe we are all here for a purpose and, like George, that purpose is intrinsically tied to each and every aspect of our individual lives. I also believe we are not meant to know our purpose. If we did, we could not grow. They say it is not about the destination; it is about the journey. This is our journey on earth, working toward that purpose, with the understanding that, in our lifetime, we will never get the answer.
If you are reading this, your journey here on this earth is not over. Don’t look for the answers. Once you have the answer, it is over. Rather look for the possibilities. It is these possibilities that open our eyes, change our points of views, give us the perspectives we need to grow.