It's a Wonderful Life indeed :)

I've been watching a lot of my favorite movies up here in Canada. I just got done watching my favorite movie of all time once again, "It's A Wonderful Life." Man, this movie gets me every time. George Bailey, haha, I love this guy, I feel like I identify with him on so many levels. I think most men do, that's why this movie is so loved. Many times in life, we may feel that what we do in life is meaningless, worthless, not that important, we feel like we fail, we feel like we could always do better, we don't believe in ourselves and even think that our lives are a waste. We always live for the future, hoping to better ourselves, reach a goal or achieve some kind of level of success, but in the pursuit of these things, we forget what really matters and what true success is. Success is not in our achievements, it is not in our not failing, it is not in our perfect record of being this or doing that, of having more or getting "there" that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow that we are always chasing, but rather success is life itself. It is the ability to make the most of what we have been given, the grace to accept our failures, ourselves, for who we are, faults and all, and realize that life can be enjoyable when we live our lives as honest, and as best we can. Yes, we are going to fail, things will not turn out the way we wish, there will be disappointments and set backs, but ultimately, life is worth living. Life is worth living when you know and remind yourself that your life counts, you might not think it does, but in God's eyes, in the eyes of someone else, it does. It means more than you will ever know. You may never see it, but others do, I believe that. Sometimes we focus so much on the bad in our lives, the areas that need improvement, and we forget to see that good in our hearts, the good that has been done through our words and actions. I don't think God looks at our faults and says, "Why can't you do better?" or "What is wrong with you?" Rather, Father God in heaven is so proud of our hearts, He really is, I believe this with everything in me, I have to, or He wouldn't be a good God to believe in. Every now and then I get down on myself, I feel like I've failed others, I haven't done enough, or I made and make too many mistakes and I've sacrificed all for nothing, the enemy would want me to think this way, to feel like I didn't measure up, that I'm not good enough for the people that I love and care for or I haven't done enough for God and His kingdom. But, after watching movies like this, I realize again what life is all about, it's simply about learning to love life and enjoy all that has been given to you by God. Whether it be bad, whether it be good, it is to be enjoyed. I'm not talking about sin, but I'm talking about your circumstances, the things you can control and the things you can't, learning to be thankful for "everything" because "everything is beautiful" yes, even our weaknesses and failures, in God's eyes they are beautiful when seen in the light of His grace and strengthened with the unconditional power of His love. George Bailey, this guy thought he wasted his life, he didn't want to live anymore, he felt like a total failure, but he never really realized the beauty he had in front of him, his beautiful wife, his wonderful kids, family and friends. He helped so many people, but he never realized the impact he had made. He was always wishing and chasing after this dream, this prophecy to be rich and travel the world, this destiny that in his mind, he thought would be the thing that would satisfy and accomplish him, make him a success. He kept living in the future and missed the joy of living right now. In the end, he realized it's not what we achieve in this life, as in what we do, who we know, what we have, but rather it is relishing, cherishing and being thankful, oh so thankful for what we are doing, who we do know and what we have right now, namely, our family and friends. The ones who we really love and truly love us. At the end of the movie, his friends from Bedford Falls all chip in on Christmas night to empty out their savings to pay for the debt he had accumulated, it's a powerful moment of what life is all about, loving one another. wow. George Bailey is the richest man in town, not because of money, but because of friends. My favorite quote at the end of the movie...

"Remember no man is a failure who has friends" Clarence "the angel"

Love never fails. And where there is love in ones heart, failure is not possible. Life is worth living, enjoy every moment, every person, every friendship, enjoy it all, everything is beautiful. It's a wonderful life indeed :)

posted by Jaeson Ma @ 11/17/2006 10:20:00 PM