It's A Wonderful Life

Well, it is Christmas again - and time for another tearful/joyful viewing of Frank Capra's 'It's a Wonderful Life'.  Perhaps you've seen it recently too?  Jimmy Stewart is George Bailey, the hero whose dreams of exotic adventure, business success and travel never materialize because he is always giving himself to others, but whose generous and principled existence is nonetheless a beautiful portrait of life lived to its fullest.

Once again I find myself weeping at this poignant reminder of where the true value in life lies.  Isn't it funny that I've seen this picture a hundred times, yet have come no further in incorporating its message in my life?  We all love George Bailey, but almost none of us chooses to follow his path. 

It's not that we are actively evil, like Mr. Potter (the conniving banker who is hated by the entire town).  But as much as we appreciate the simple treasure of George's life as a romantic  ideal, our real life passions are not so easily redirected.  We humans are somehow bound to chase after wealth of a more conventional nature - the very booty that George spent his whole life desiring and never achieving.  We are really more likely to aspire to be Sam Wainwrights (George's opportunistic boyhood friend who seems to have little depth, but becomes wealthy and worldly) than George Baileys.

Even George really does not seek the noble life that he lives.  He tries on numerous occasions to escape from his humdrum existence only to be foiled by various catastrophes that require him to sacrifice his own dreams to rescue others from dire circumstances. 

The film ends rather abruptly after a Dickensian dream sequence demonstrating to George the impact of his life by showing the sad state of affairs that would have resulted had he not been around.  George sprints home with joy in his heart and discovers that his years of sacrifice will not go unrewarded. His friends and neighbors rally around him.  Surrounded by friends and family singing Auld Lang Syne, George seems to understand that his is the essence of a fulfilled life.

But one is left with the question of how George would have felt with the passage of time.  Would the epiphany he experienced with Clarence the Angel have given him a lasting conviction about the value of his life, or would the longing for more exotic experiences and worldly recognition have eventually crept back into his psyche?

Why is it so difficult for us to embrace and act upon the simple truth of this story?  Perhaps it is partly because the truth is not quite so simple.  There are many natural contradictions in life that cannot easily be resolved.  In a sentimental moment we may extol the virtues of the simple life and the primary importance of friends, family and love, but we are easily seduced away from these ideals by the sirens of wealth, adventure and power.

The human spirit seems to quickly lose patience with a placid, humble existence.  Consider the many movies and books that celebrate the passionate young soul who breaks free from a stifling, small town environment and achieves wealth and fame in the big city.  It seems we are doomed to vacillate between the poles of frenzied ambition and sedate acceptance.  We are a restless people who find it difficult to be content with our lot in life.

If one speaks from the perspective of true intentions, one might describe George Bailey as an accidental saint.  But on the other hand, when the difficult decisions had to be made, George always took the high road, the one that clearly was going to dash his hopes and dreams but allow others’ to flourish.  Most of us are subject to George Bailey’s dreams of wealth and fame, but few of us are so selfless and willing to sacrifice them for the sake of others.  This, in the end, is the moral lesson of It’s A Wonderful Life.