Strange, isn’t it?  Each person’s life touches so many other lives . –Clarence the Angel

I rolled the dice on the ultimate family movie night this week.  And hit the jackpot!

Growing up, the movie “It’s  a Wonderful Life” was a huge part of the Clark tradition.  I still remember watching it on a 13-inch, black and white Sylvania television, complete with rabbit ears! (Is that a tell-tale sign of being old?)  Even on the small screen, the emotional power of the story resonated to my core.  So when it came to the big screen in a local movie theater last Monday, I seized the opportunity and brought all four of my kids to experience the magic.

For those not familiar with the plot line, “It’s a Wonderful Life” tells the story of George Bailey, a small businessman in a small town who never achieved his dreams of international travel and monetary success.  Instead, he spent his life beaten down by his nemesis, Mr. Potter, and fighting local battles in the tiny hamlet of Bedford Falls.  When financial ruin becomes imminent, George contemplates throwing his own life away.   But Clarence, his Guardian Angel, shows George how many lives he has positively influenced and how much worse the world would be had he never been born.  Atta boy, Clarence!

But would a 1946 film without explosions, crude comedy or teen heartthrobs resonate with the next generation?  I was nervous.  When we rolled into the theater and the lights dimmed, I held my breath and half-expected the kids to pull out their phones and roll their eyes.  But thirty minutes in, I looked over and all four, ranging in ages from 10 to 18, were glued to the silver screen!  They hung on every word and cheered in the end when Clarence earned his wings.  It was a Christmas miracle!

“It’s a Wonderful Life” explores struggle and disappointment as universal themes.  But these pale in comparison to the immense power of appreciation and perspective.  These transcending truths resonate across gender, age and socio-economic lines.   And they are the cornerstones of our personal and professional lives.

Finding Meaning in our Work Lives

We have all experienced doubt and despair in our work lives.  No matter what our chosen profession or level of success, we all struggle with nagging questions.

Does what I do matter? Does anyone notice my hard work?  Is my company a positive force?  Am I making a difference in this world?

At some point, we all experience failure.  At some point, we all contemplate the existential question of where we fit in the universe.  Sometimes, it is important to step back to take perspective in our work lives.

Whether we occupy The Iron Throne or dwell in the cubicle,  we can all impact our corner of the world.  Are we good teammates?  Do we have our clients best interests at heart?  Have we helped even one student or athlete reach their potential?  Do we run our company to make money AND help our employees thrive?  Are we positively impacting the culture in our office? 

We don’t need angelic intervention to understand our place in the world.  If we are doing the right thing, offering positive advice, and helping others in their daily struggle, we are making a difference.  Financial reward is not the only measure of success.

Perspective is Key

The same is true in our personal lives.  We have to be intentional about how we interact.  Our children are looking to us for guidance.  Our family is counting on us to stay positive.  Our parents are looking for us to give maximum effort.  Our spouse or significant other needs our support.   We don’t always think our actions matter.  We may not always hear the praise.  But we have to keep everything in perspective.

Our actions matter.  Our attitude matters.  Our relationships matter.  We can’t throw in the towel.  We can’t cave in to our own frustrations.  We may feel all alone and unappreciated at various times in our lives.  But regardless of feedback or external validation, we can’t lose our way.  We have to stay strong.  Our corner of the world needs us know more than we will ever know.

What Really Matters?

But that doesn’t mean it is easy.  Like George Bailey, the world can sometimes tilt against us.  The “Mr. Potters” can bear down on our dreams and crush our self-confidence.  The fixation with “keeping up with Joneses” can crush our self-worth.  The minutia of our every day lives can overwhelm us and and make us feel insignificant and small.

But it is precisely during these times that resilience truly matters. In our darkest moments, we have to appreciate the things we do have.  We have to lean on and trust our inner circle.  We have to keep moving forward and believe in our own God-given talents. Our life touches so many other lives.

George Bailey needed Clarence the Angel to open his eyes and show him the way.  We may not have Clarence.  But we have our family. We have our friends.  We have our faith.   What else do we need this holiday season?

Take a deep breath and smile.  It really is a wonderful life!