Friends

Last night, we performed our annual viewing of Frank Capra’s classic film “It’s a Wonderful Life.”  It never fails to move me on multiple levels.

Every year I watch the distraught George Bailey chewing on his fingers at Martini’s bar.  He admits that he is not a ‘praying man,’ but he pleads to God for help.  When he does, my mind wanders through my own life and I say, “We’ve all been there – where George Bailey is – at some time in our lives.”  I’ve learned not so easily that God inevitably answers our prayers, most often through the intervention of another person – or another creature.

Some call them angels, others call them friends.  The words are interchangeable.  It might be your wife, your son or daughter, your mother or father.  It might be your dog.  They are there, they are everywhere and they watch over us.

I invite you to read other Christmas posts from years past that we wrote about this film

It’s a Wonderful Life – originally posted on December 21, 2012 and

Clarence Oddbody on Each Man’s Life – originally posted on December 20, 2011

Too often, we overlook or fail to acknowledge how our actions and choices affect the lives of so many other people.  The film reminds us that we are all connected.  Lest we forget, regardless of where we are at this particular moment, “… no man is a failure who has friends.”

I encourage you to watch the film to be reminded us how truly wonderful and grand life is.

Merry Christmas

Mitakuye Oyasin