This is the first article I've read of yours & wow it is spectacular.
I knew I enjoy "It's a Wonderful Life" for some reason but could never pinpoint it until now.
Another great movie is "Everything Everywhere All at Once" where the character of Waynond shows the power of kindness & actionable empathy in men. Oftentimes, people say the kind gentlemen gets trampled by others but EEAO shows otherwise and validates the idea of being genuine & the strength of choosing to be kind in a world where it's easier to by cynical and nihilistic.
I have read many of your articles and this is by far my favorite! I never have thought that deeply about that movie though I have watched it many times. It really is a good parable for our modern times.
You’ve written a ton of pieces that have stuck with me this year, but now you’ve done something I didn’t think anyone could do: convince me to watch It’s a Wonderful Life.
This was a tour through the mind, thoughts, expectations & unmet expecttions of ANY man, at least a honest one. It significant that this fella, me, had to experience years of loss before acknowledge, like in your post, that I am just not going to measure up on the gofer wheel of life. This was soul a destroying revelation. Only when I discovered my true worth, being nothing compared to CHRIST, not my fellow man, that I was ready while at this last door on the right, to hear what was said not in a still soft voice, but GOD was basically screaming at me to wake up & take the measure of things, by HIS plumb line. I found I was utterly and flatly bankrupt in every category. Why is it that it takes GOD shouting at me before I will listen? Anyway with a humiliated sense of self worth I was able to hear Him with ears to hear & eyes to see. The problem was far worse than i'd imagined. George Bailey is a picture of many fellas. There is hope for actual change at the end of ourselves. It is always the "But GOD" from Romans 5:8 that awakens me to the depth of tve problem. Great article!!!
“Please God, let me live again.” Is this a ‘conversion’ experience?
Looking at George’s ‘goodness’, it may seem like he’s almost there. IF Good Works . . .
Except goodness isn’t the determiner for ultimate ‘purpose’, only Christ’s sinless-life-goodness on the cross, applied to our debt (None good, no not one) is sufficient ‘payment’ for the Wonderful Life.
Don’t miss it, George!
Angel, here’s your cultural bridge to present the Gospel! “You must be born again.” Here’s another Nicodemus.
In this vein, "Saving Private Ryan" also is an excellent movie for men, especially the last scene at the cemetery when he tells his wife, "Tell me I've led a good life. Tell me I'm a good man."
This is the first article I've read of yours & wow it is spectacular.
I knew I enjoy "It's a Wonderful Life" for some reason but could never pinpoint it until now.
Another great movie is "Everything Everywhere All at Once" where the character of Waynond shows the power of kindness & actionable empathy in men. Oftentimes, people say the kind gentlemen gets trampled by others but EEAO shows otherwise and validates the idea of being genuine & the strength of choosing to be kind in a world where it's easier to by cynical and nihilistic.
I have read many of your articles and this is by far my favorite! I never have thought that deeply about that movie though I have watched it many times. It really is a good parable for our modern times.
Can I be bold enough to ask you to consider writing a book on this? Please please please.
*Meditations on It’s a Wonderful Life* as your next book? I’ll even endorse it!
Love this! Thank you
You’ve written a ton of pieces that have stuck with me this year, but now you’ve done something I didn’t think anyone could do: convince me to watch It’s a Wonderful Life.
Outstanding analysis of an outstanding movie. I never thought of relating it to our contemporary situation. Well done.
Loved this! Masters and Commanders is a particularly good movie for men to watch.
This is absolutely fantastic.
This was a tour through the mind, thoughts, expectations & unmet expecttions of ANY man, at least a honest one. It significant that this fella, me, had to experience years of loss before acknowledge, like in your post, that I am just not going to measure up on the gofer wheel of life. This was soul a destroying revelation. Only when I discovered my true worth, being nothing compared to CHRIST, not my fellow man, that I was ready while at this last door on the right, to hear what was said not in a still soft voice, but GOD was basically screaming at me to wake up & take the measure of things, by HIS plumb line. I found I was utterly and flatly bankrupt in every category. Why is it that it takes GOD shouting at me before I will listen? Anyway with a humiliated sense of self worth I was able to hear Him with ears to hear & eyes to see. The problem was far worse than i'd imagined. George Bailey is a picture of many fellas. There is hope for actual change at the end of ourselves. It is always the "But GOD" from Romans 5:8 that awakens me to the depth of tve problem. Great article!!!
“Please God, let me live again.” Is this a ‘conversion’ experience?
Looking at George’s ‘goodness’, it may seem like he’s almost there. IF Good Works . . .
Except goodness isn’t the determiner for ultimate ‘purpose’, only Christ’s sinless-life-goodness on the cross, applied to our debt (None good, no not one) is sufficient ‘payment’ for the Wonderful Life.
Don’t miss it, George!
Angel, here’s your cultural bridge to present the Gospel! “You must be born again.” Here’s another Nicodemus.
In this vein, "Saving Private Ryan" also is an excellent movie for men, especially the last scene at the cemetery when he tells his wife, "Tell me I've led a good life. Tell me I'm a good man."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZgoufN99n8