Mr. Potter

Last Sunday, I watched "It's a Wonderful Life" for the second time this Christmas season. Every time I see this movie I tend to find myself identifying with George, as I am sure many people do. In addition, I have allowed myself to emotionally get caught up in the movie and specifically find myself despising the banker Mr. Potter. Parallels between his character and some of what is wrong with this world are easy to draw. As I watched the movie this time, I really started to think more about miserable old Mr. Potter. Once again, as he steals the $8000 from George's uncle I found my self kinda upset that he get's away with it. I always want to see some sort of epilogue that says he got caught and spent his final years in a prison cell. The next thought I had was about the premise of the movie, in which the Angel Clarence is being shown George's life, so that he will have the information needed to help him. I entertained this thought that the whole problem of George trying to take his life, in despair, would be voided if Mr. Potter could just have a timely heart attack :-)

From this line of thoughts I came to the obvious conclusion, for myself, that George needed Mr. Potter. Mr. Potter really represented a series of obstacles in George's life that he needed in order to learn and grow. George's "Wonderful Life" is remarkably wonderful because of his ability to continually stand up for others and fight Mr. Potter both in business and as a community leader. I mentioned that I came to a conclusion for myself. Well, in October, when I was let go from my job of 7 years in a moment of depressing thoughts the line from Mr. Potter to George popped into my head.... "you're worth more dead than alive". The reference to George's insurance policy, which represented his only monetary worth, as he saw it at the time. Well, I myself have a pretty decent life insurance plan, and I have to admit that a few times my thoughts were of how well my family could be taken care of with those funds. Funny how a little thing like losing your job can bring on such thoughts of despair. As the Christmas season approached I knew I would really identify with some of what George was thinking, in terms of loving his family and wanting something better for them.

The revelation that Mr. Potter was a necessary obstacle in George's life helped me to realize and accept that I have and will face many Mr. Potter's throughout my life. In recent months there has been much reason to be frustrated and in despair. However, I have come to realize that as one of my friends put it "one door closes and another door opens". There are opportunities out there, albeit not ones that would be within my comfort zone. For years I have put off getting a State Architecture License. I have had a good excuse of not having the time. Well not anymore :-) This will be one of many pursuits that I will embark on in 2011. I have actually been greatly blessed, in that I have had a little bit of continuous work, at home, for the past 3 months. It is not the income that we were accustomed to, but it has helped us get by and more importantly provide a relatively nice Christmas this year. I have to give appreciation to some of my boys. Mary and I told them how financially burdened we were and that Christmas would be smaller this year, thus when we asked them for Christmas wish lists they all gave a few clothing needs and a very modest list of less expensive toy/fun items. No there will not be any iPods or snowboards this year but that doesn't matter.

Jeffery has been sick with a lingering head cold for a few days now. Last night I gave him a blessing. Afterwords I decided that the only thing I really need to have on Christmas morning is my children and grandchild gathered around me. To have a healthy and safe family together is really all that matters to me and truly it is what makes this a "Wonderful Life".

Merry Christmas to you all!
Love Sean