It’s a Wonderful Life
by Paula Kavolius
At this time of year I love to watch one of my favorite holiday movies, “It’s a Wonderful Life”. George Bailey is a small-town man with big dreams, whose life seems so downtrodden and desperate that he contemplates suicide. He had always wanted to leave the town of Bedford Falls to see the world, but circumstances and his own good heart led him to stay and take over the family business.
When many of us found out that our child would have “special needs”, there was a period of time that we wanted to leave home and see the world, but circumstances and love for that child lead us to stay. The part of the movie that gets me every time is when George Bailey is sitting at the bar, and in his desperation he begins talking to God. He tells Him that he is not a praying man, but he is at the end of his rope.
When he hits rock bottom, George Bailey is blessed by an angel, Clarence, who shows him how important his life has been to so many people. He is given a second chance to see what the lives of his loved ones would be like without him, and he returns home to watch all of his friends and neighbors come through the door to express their love and gratitude in his time of greatest need. He realizes for the first time that despite his shortcomings, he truly is the richest man in the world.
There are so many of us that don’t realize how exceptionally beautiful and rich our lives truly are. While society tells us to look at the surface of things and to seek perfection, we need to learn that it is the character and heart of others that truly matter. We need to seek acceptance, both of ourselves and of others, because it is the flecks of imperfection in our lives that make our world harmonious and perfect.
I think that our HOPe family exemplifies the final scene of that movie, every single day. Hundreds of people have helped us to create a glimpse of heaven on earth here, and each individual is a vital piece in the puzzle of HOPe’s success. Whether it’s Pam, who volunteers to teach yoga, or Stu, who volunteers to teach Martial Arts, or Veronica, who decorated the whole HOPe house, or George, who volunteered to film a video, or Rachel, who teaches Art, or the dozens of volunteers that come to play checkers or games, these are a few of the people that create such a wonderful life at HOPe.
Just as George learns that his life has been a rich one and his imperfect world is all he needs, many of us on this special road have begun to realize these things too. Each person serves a purpose in this world, and that purpose is to love and help each other through life’s journey. It is important to recognize those that sacrifice for the sake of others, and the imprint they leave on the lives they have touched.
Robert Frost wrote,
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”
As we approach Christmas and the New Year, let’s think about how we choose to live our own lives, and what we can do to love and support those that surround us. Keep in mind that you are more important in the lives of others than you get credit for, and you are appreciated far more than you are told. Remember that you are admired by your friends, family, and neighbors, and you are loved more than you will ever know.
Here’s to you, and the light and love you bring to us at HOPe, and to the world.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!