It's a Wonderful Life

Do you have a wonderful life?  Or could you act out the whole movie yourself?

I suspect each of us are more like George Bailey - we are too close to see the impact we might have on the world around us.  Blind enough to it that it seems the world would do just fine without us.

That's what Mr. Potter is there for, and I confess, sometimes I am Mr. Potter.   Mr. Potter is the curmudgeon who sees no silver linings only dark clouds.  Unless Mr. Potter sees the gold in it for him if he can nail down the next big deal.


Mr. Potter doesn't like George.  George is too optimistic, too ambitious, too full of life to get drug down by cynicism.

George wants to lasso the moon; bring it down to earth so his Mary can enjoy it a while. 

He does things because they seem like the right thing to do and does them without fanfare.  George pulls Harry out of the icy pond, saving his life and losing hearing in an ear.  George sees a mistake by Mr. Gower and quietly corrects the prescription, helping the patient get well and preventing Mr. Gower from losing his livelihood.

Sometimes, we are Harry.  Other times, we are Mr. Gower, rescued by an unseen hand.

When Uncle Billy loses track of things and changes George's life to the point the future hangs in the balance - George with Mary's unselfish assistance - keeps the life of many in Bedford Falls whole and keeps Billy's integrity intact.

Who notices such things?  It's much easier to remember the screw-ups and things we forget.  It's too easy to think how many people (including ourselves) that we let down over time.

There might not be an angel second class to let us observe a world without us and the rippling effect it has on our corner of it.

Your Clarence, we all have a Clarence, may gently remind you how you brighten the day of your co-workers; put a smile on the face of grocery store cashiers; and help change individual lives at church.

Since our only frame of reference is basically a personal one - it is hard to think outside ourselves and see how things might have gone had we not been in our work place for those years.  Who knows what our acquaintances, friends, girl/boy friends might be doing if we were not part of their life story?

This Christmas, I hope you notice some of ZuZu's petals in the bottom of your pocket - a gentle tap on the shoulder that your reality, messed up as it might feel at times, is a pretty good one.

Or, this Christmas, you might take a moment to be Clarence for someone else - tell them how your life would be so incredibly different without them in it.  Guaranteed they don't hear that very often.

Christmas is tomorrow - it's a good time to send someone a Clarence note - just a few words to tell someone the world is richer because they are here.

Like George was told by his brother Harry (who saved a Navy ship and it's crew because he was alive thanks to George saving his life), we all need to recognize how we are the "richest man (or woman) in town."

"Dear George, Remember no man is a failure who has friends.  Thanks for the wings. Love, Clarence."

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!