Character And Community Are Fundamentally Connected
Frank Capra’s 1946 classic It’s a Wonderful Life has become an annual Christmas time staple. Jimmy Stewart stars in a very simple narrative that tries to answer a complex question: what if you never existed?
George Bailey grows up in a small town. By his accounts Bailey believes he does nothing extraordinary. He is not a war hero like his brother and his family savings and loan business remains modest by all standards.
When his uncle looses a key daily deposit in their family business, George tries to kill himself. His guardian angel saves him and gives George a great gift: a view of his life as if he never existed.
Quickly George discovers how one man can make a difference. Without George many of the town’s citizens have no good places to live. George’s business provided all the loans. George’s brother never becomes a war hero because George was not there to rescue him when he almost drowned as a young boy. George’s lovely wife is an old maid.
It’s a Wonderful Life reveals that character and community are fundamentally connected. Every action has an impact for good or for ill on the community. Because of the limits of the human condition, we never know all the ripple effects of our actions. Being a person of character—of good choices—solves that problem of not knowing because we are always striving to do what is right.
And thus character can always has an impact for the good.
Good post Michael. This truly is a wonderful life we’ve been given. Breath by breath. Heartbeat by heartbeat. At times we may not think so. Choices against us and choices we’ve made, whether young or old tend to influence our character.But…these choices can be used to mold us, to make us stronger. We can linger in destruction…destroying others…even nations along the way. Or we can aspire to destiny, our purpose…why we were born for such a time. Biblical examples of Joseph, Esther, Samuel…Mary Magdelene…Choosing forgiveness and pursuing purpose instead of being bound in bitterness, anger, retaliation, and resentment when choices against us, like abuse, entered our lives at a young age. We can release the pain and the people that have hurt us…into the Hands of God. Seems hard…but true freedom comes in the release to His Hands and true justice. Learning the lessons of this wonderful life are hard. But taking the time to reflect…and sometimes heal…from the lesson will build character that can be molded and passed on to the next generation.As a young child with abusive choices made against me…then as a young woman making destructive choices from the pain…I wondered as George…why was I born…what if I never existed…no difference’?As I turned my heart to Jesus, he healed me of all the choices and molded the lessons into character that would be used to bring life to the unwanted and His love to a chosen generation.For almost 30 years, I’ve used those character lessons to bring healing and hope to others, helping others achieve their God given destiny. Many women given hope and healing, children born through difficult situations for such a time…now serving in government, in other nations, as doctors, teachers, nurses, business leaders, mothers and fathers, working with the unwanted…one character, one wonderful life… at a time.From Esther 4:12-16When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this? 15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.
Cindy,Thank you for the powerful testimony of your faith and turning the unwanted lessons to and sharing productive character lessons with our readers. I hope our friend Pat Murphy is reading your post as she/or he would be pleased to see more gender balance.Thank you for taking the time to craft such a substantive post. May our readers benefit from your lessons.
Be who you are and be that well. St. Francis de Sales.