Out of the Darkness

It’s almost that time of year:  when the Christmas movies come at us, one after the other, in rapid succession.  There is the fact that many of them don’t realize the irony of showing Christmas movies during Advent.  Let’s move beyond that. 

One of my favorite movies is, “It’s a Wonderful Life.”  It is a classic Jimmy Stewart film, and full of too many lessons for one article.  I’d like to focus on one especially poignant moment in the movie.  But first, a little background: 

George Bailey, a man of many trials and troubles, has reached his breaking point.  In the face of losing everything and going to jail for embezzlement, he decides to end it all.  While trying to jump off a bridge, his own guardian angel, Clarence, comes to the rescue.  He offers this man an alternative to suicide.  George is granted the wish of never having been born.  (His declaration is similar to that of Job:  “May the day I was born be wiped out..”  Job 3:3) 

As time passes, however, George realizes how much his life has affected the lives of others in his little hometown.  Beyond his wife and children, the entire ambiance of Bedford Falls has been changed, simply by his life of perseverance. 

Now for the moment.  George returns to the bridge, and calls out to God:  “I want to live again!”  In true Hollywood fashion, Christmas Eve snow falls, the community rallies around his family, and George realizes what he had all along wasn’t really so terrible. 

As mentioned above, we see the same in the life of Job.  Though Job began with a life of prosperity and blessing (unlike George), everything quickly went downhill.  His children, his livestock, his servants…all lost to him.  Then, even his health is taken.  He sits scraping his sores in a place of mourning, clothed in sackcloth and ashes.  Friends come to “cheer” him, but only serve to increase his sorrow, as they lay the blame at his feet.   Even his wife urges him to curse God and die.   Job cries out to God with all of the “Why me?” questions.  His life has been shattered, and he has nowhere left to turn.

Then, as God reveals that He is the all-knowing Creator, Job’s viewpoint begins to widen.  He starts to see the bigger picture.  He finally realizes that as long as he remembers Who his God truly is, his life is not wasted.  All is not lost.  He wants to “live again.” 

We all face dark times in life.  They may not be as desperate as those of George and Job, but our circumstances can become just as overwhelming.  We can only see the futility of life, and not its promise.  Often, we come to the conclusion that God has totally abandoned us.  Oh, but how could the One, who set it all in place, turn His face away?  How could the God, who sent His only Son to die for you, truly ever leave you to face this world alone?

As Advent approaches, I hope you can take into your heart that sense of waiting for Christ, even as Mary and Joseph anticipated His coming so long ago.  I pray that you will know the anticipation of awaiting His second coming as well, when He “comes again in glory,” as we recite in the Creed.  May the joy of Advent carry you through the difficult times, and bring to you the peace Christ came to offer when He came to earth.  With Job, may you declare, “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.”  (Job 42:5) 

Step out of the darkness and live again!