It’s a Wonderful Life

Every year around Christmas time we watch Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life. One of my favorite movies of all time. It hits close to home in so many ways and has spoken to me over the years. This year while watching, a dialogue in the movie stood out to me that I never caught before. George is talking to his Father about finally getting out of Bedford Falls, the small town that he simply can’t seem to escape. His Father asks George if he’d consider taking over the small family owned building and loan business. Below is the dialogue between George and his Father after his Father asks the question.

GEORGE: “I couldn't face being cooped up for the rest of my life in a shabby little office. Oh, I'm sorry, Pop, I didn't mean that, but this business of nickels and dimes and spending all your life trying to figure out how to save 3 cents on a length of pipe ... I'd go crazy. I want to do something big and something important.”

PA BAILEY: “You know, George, I feel that in a small way, we are doing something important. Satisfying a fundamental urge. It's deep in the race for a man to want his own roof and walls and fireplace, and we're helping him get those things in our shabby little office.”

At times I’ve wondered if my “something big and something important” has passed me by. But Pa Bailey’s words hit home for me this year. That “in our small way we are doing something important.” I’m beginning to believe that our big and important is really the small and important things we are doing in our lives right now and that by consistently doing the small and important things, they become a wonderful life.