A WONDERFUL LIFE INDEED

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight. - Proverbs 3:5, 6

I have a confession to make. There are still a few people left in this country who have never seen the movie, "It's A Wonderful Life." Sadly, I'm married to one of them. My husband is not a movie classic lover like I am. I could cuddle up on the sofa and watch the Golden Oldies for days. However, I choose not to, but believe me, I could.


Anyhow, valuable lessons of understanding and trust just oozes out onto the screen in this movie. The character, George Bailey, wants to travel the world, but ends up shelving his dream as he sacrifices for others. One day, the sacrifice becomes too great and poor George is faced with a painful decision -- he prayerfully entertains the notion of what would life be like had he not been born. Based on the current pressing circumstance, his understanding was that he was of no good use to anyone. Well, his prayers were answered and boy, was he in for a rude awakening. An elderly angel named Clarence safely guarded his charge as he is given the gift of walking out his request.


As George traveled from one familiar place to the next, he began to realize that his life did mean something. Each event from childhood on -- which is where the movie starts -- acts as a toppling row of dominoes. His brother died because George isn't there to save him from drowning. A squadron of soldiers died in the war because George's brother was not there to save them because George was not there to save him from drowning. You get the picture, don't you. If one domino falls, the rest follow.


So why the Cliff Notes version of this classic film? As believers in a moment of crisis, we sometimes entertain the notion ourselves that we have no impact within our sphere of influence. Whether you're a missionary trying to reach the lost in a hostile land or a woman just trying to make a difference in your not-so-friendly next-door neighbor, the difference we make is not in WHO we are but in WHOSE we are. As long as we trust the Lord and keep doing what we do best -- pray, encourage, serve, exhort, teach, whatever -- God can use us for His good purpose.


But let's say, for the sake of argument, that you hit a point in your life where things aren't so wonderful. You're beginning to doubt your ability to be effective for the kingdom. Not to sound trite, but stuff like this happens all the time. You may feel alone, but you're not. You may feel helpless. You aren't. God reminds us to acknowledge Him not just in some, but in ALL our ways. He, like the angel Clarence, will put things into perspective and make our paths straight.


So the next time you find yourself questioning your effectiveness, take this butchered, famous quote to heart, "if not you, then who?" You were created to be a wonderful life indeed. Now go out there and live it in the lives of those around you!