It's a Wonderful Life at the New Year

A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to introduce a screening of the holiday classic, It’s a Wonderful Life at the Temple Theater in Saginaw. The audience of almost 400 people was fun, the building is gorgeous, and the staff members at the Temple are really lovely. After I said my bit, I sat down with popcorn and a soda and watched the film in a room where it very well may have played when it first came out in 1946. It gave me a chance to reflect on a movie that I have largely taken for granted over the years. It was played on TV constantly between 1974 and 1994 because a clerical error allowed its copyright to expire. Because of its profound ubiquity at the holidays, I generally started to dismiss it. 

But watching it there on the big screen in the Temple, I rediscovered why it’s become such a beloved movie and why it’s the perfect movie to discuss on this, the last episode of Moviehouse of the year. I don’t know about you, but 2017 has been a rough year for a lot of people. It’s been a year of deep political turmoil, regardless of your affiliation. There have been horrendous mass shootings, hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires, and a host of other problems. People I know personally have struggled with anxiety and depression, unemployment, loss of personal property, and the death of loved ones. It’s been hard.

We normally think of It’s a Wonderful Life as a Christmas movie, but it’s actually really appropriate for New Year’s too. We all know the story. George Bailey is a guy whose sense of duty and decency keep him trapped in his small hometown instead of traveling the world and building big things like he wants to. He keeps the family business puttering along, marries and raises a family, and generally goes about being a decent guy. Then, all at once, as things do sometimes, everything falls apart and in one day, he’s in danger of losing his business, going to jail, and handing over everything he’s worked for to the villainous Mr. Potter.

In a moment of despair, George wishes he was never born, thinking everyone would be better without him. His guardian angel grants his wish and allows him to see what Bedford Falls would be like without him. Of course, the picture is grim and he realizes how improved the world is with him in it. He returns to reality with a renewed appreciation for his life, his family, and even his problems. He runs home, bellowing out that iconic Jimmy Stewart “Merry Christmas” along the way.

As everyone knows, things work out, and all the people George has helped over the years show up to help him in his time of need.

The thing I realized at the Temple the other night is that George is happy before he ever knows things are going to work out. As he runs home, deliriously happy, for all he knows, he is running toward jail. He’s grateful for his family and his life and his old building and loan and calls out “Merry Christmas” before everyone shows up with money to bail him out of trouble. He’s happy for his life even when it’s bad. As a rough year comes to an end, I realize that the enduring message of It’s a Wonderful Life is that we can find joy and hope even when there is darkness, even when the Mr. Potters of the world seem to have all the power, even before we know how or when things are going to get better. Just being here, having work to do, having people to love – that is enough, it’s something to celebrate, it’s something wonderful. I hope the coming year is peaceful for everyone, but even if it’s not, I hope we can have optimism, gratitude, kindness, and love anyway.