It’s a Wonderful Life

“It’s a Wonderful Life” is by far one of my favorite movies.  I love the message, and I also love Jimmy Stewart.  (“Harvey” is another winner on my list.)  If you’ve never seen this film, it is a must.  George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) becomes completely depressed and guilt-ridden when a financial failure occurs.  He is convinced that other people’s lives would have been so much better without him.  His mind is changed when Clarence, the angel trying to earn his wings, helps him to see what the world would have been like without him.  This simple, but eye opening film can give a you a new perspective on the impact that you have made in the lives of others.

This blog post is not born out of my love for “It’s a Wonderful Life”.  This post is born out of tragic events.  The “what if” moments, that we all have, has been on my mind today.  What if I had reached out a little bit more?  What if I had cultivated a friendship?  What if people embraced truth instead of reacting out of fear?

I recently learned that a friend from my past has been indicted on 1st degree murder and 1st degree kidnapping charges.  We see these things on the news all the time, but we never know the person.  Well, I knew this person, we dated a bit, and it has made me think, “how did this happen?”

There was another person that struck a similar chord in my soul.  He was a boyfriend from high school, and he passed away from a drug overdose a few years ago.  Drug overdose??  Really??  Drugs weren’t even on our radar screen back then.  What happened?  What if he had a person that encouraged him to make different choices?

I know that I have impacted many people in my life.  I know that some people would have been on drastically different journeys if we had not met.  Some of this is due to my career choices, and some to my platonic relationship choices.  However, what would have happened in our journeys if I had been more intentional?

“I’m wide awake
Yes, I am born again
Out of the lion’s den
I don’t have to pretend
 that it’s too late”

Katy Perry’s lyrics are so true.  It’s not too late to be intentional in pursuing relationships, in playing on social media, or even our daily conversations.  Be intentional about expressing the truth of who you are, and being that positive light to others.

2 Corinthians 4:6 – For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

We are the light in the darkness, and we need to be intentional.  Clarence, the angel in training, was George Bailey’s light in the darkness, and saved him from suicide.

2 Corinthians 4:7 – We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

We must care and cultivate our own light, so that it does not turn to darkness.  This cycle is perpetual.  When we shine our light, and ignite the fireworks in others, our light will continue to be energized EVERLASTING.

2 Corinthians 4:8 – We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.

Last night, I was asked by a co-worker and friend, “How do you keep the negativity from crushing you?”  I am aware.  I am wide awake, and born again.  Nothing can crush me when I have the armor of Jesus Christ on my body.

2 Corinthians 4:9 – We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.

Yes, I do get run down.  I do get disgusted.  I do get discouraged.  I am lifted back up when I rest in prayer to the Holy Trinity.

2 Corinthians 4:10 – Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.

It is no secret that Jesus is alive, and HE is alive in us.  Be wide awake.  Be intentional.  “Be the change you wish to see in others.” (yeah, that last one was from Ghandi.)  Lastly, be intent on having a wonderful life.

There is a distinct value in failure because it inspires us to succeed. True success is different for everyone, and is often defined when we surpass our failures to persist in achievement. Many leaders, authors, celebrities, and influential personalities have a deep history of failure only because they never lost their enthusiasm or desire for success. Here are 10 inspirational quotes to encourage you to keep striving for success:

• Winston Churchill – Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.
• Michael Jordan – I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.
• George S. Patton – I don’t measure a man’s success by how high he climbs, but how I he bounces when he hits bottom.
• Jon Bon Jovi – Success is falling nine times and getting up ten.
• K. Rowling – It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all, in which case you have failed by default.
• Oprah Winfrey – Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another steppingstone to greatness.
• Paulo Coelho – I think you can have 10,000 explanations for failure, but no good explanation for success.
• Bill Cosby – In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.
• Malcolm Forbes – Failure is success if we learn from it.
• Helen Keller – Character cannot me developed in ease and quiet. Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired and success achieved.

I have failed much in life, and I have bounced back beyond what I could have imagined.  In one of my darkest moments, The Good Lord shared with me Exodus 14:14 – The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.  I was shaken to the core when he revealed this verse to me, and I accepted the commandment I began my ascension.  “God will fight our battles” means we do not have to anguish, be anxious, or be discouraged when bad things happen in our lives. When it seems a situation is hopeless or the matter at hand is too overwhelming, we may be tempted to doubt God.  Christians must remember that no problem is beyond the scope of God’s sovereign care for His children.  Much like valued education, when we apply failures as growth opportunities our potential is limitless.  When any challenge is met with determination and persistence you will find success. Don’t just test your boundaries, redefine them.