The FBI didn’t like It’s A Wonderful Life. I never knew that. I learned it from our Pastor at our Christmas Eve service. Perhaps you, like me, are not so much shocked that someone didn’t like the film —each person is entitled to their own opinion— but that the FBI had any kind of opinion about the film.
It turns out the FBI felt Mr. Potter should have been portrayed (at least, in their view) as the more realistic character. After all, the thinking went, he was just a local banker doing what he thought best under the laws and regulations of the State of New York. They went to bat, big time, for Mr. P. He had bank examiners to consider; and he knew his loans would be criticized by those worthies should he not require adequate collateral. Heaven forbid he should make a loan to a person who was a credit risk!
In fact, the FBI liked almost everything about Mr. Potter and almost nothing about George Bailey, viewing Bailey as the very opposite of a cautious banker. **
I think many of us, especially those of us who are fans of George Bailey, are scratching our heads. How could they not like It’s A Wonderful Life? And how could they ever champion someone like Mr. Potter? Still, whether you agree with the FBI or not, there is something on which I hope we can all agree: in every way, Scrooge got a better deal than Potter.
From almost the very beginning of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, people are reaching out to Mr. Scrooge, pleading, cajoling, inviting him to join them in all that is Christmas. There are those who care enough about his immortal soul to go out of their way to try to bring Mr. Scrooge into the fold. Why, the very first words spoken to him are, “A merry Christmas, uncle! God save you!”
No one said anything even close to that to Mr. Potter.
We cheered for George Bailey because we liked him; and with good reason. George Bailey personified all that we cherish as good ... and all we aspire to be. Almost nobody cheers for the villains ... also with good reason.
But could we at least pray for them?
No one in It’s A Wonderful Life ever showed any interest in Mr. Potter’s soul. They (and we) were too caught up in saving George. The vast spiritual need of the other man just never registered with us. Yes, Mr. Potter was the villain, but so was Mr. Scrooge ... at the beginning. The difference between the two men is that others (including ghostly old Marley) cared enough about Mr. Scrooge to reach out, cared enough to even go to extraordinary lengths to bring him into the fold.
So, in this season that celebrates a love so great it left heaven for our benefit, can we pause to pray for the Mr. Potters in our lives? Wouldn’t it be great if, someday, we could greet them with the same joy as Mr. Scrooge’s nephew?
“A merry Christmas, Mr. Potter! God save you!”
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PHOTOS: IMDB.com
** Read all about why the FBI didn’t like It’s A Wonderful Life, here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/weird-story-fbi-and-its-wonderful-life-180967587/
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READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK
First Sunday After Christmas
December 29, 2019
https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=8
Isaiah 63:7-9
Psalm 148
Hebrews 2:10-18
Matthew 2:13-23
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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Friday morning at 8:00 is our opportunity to be together at DaySpring’s Lectionary Breakfast. As always, we will gather at Our Breakfast Place (formerly named The Egg and I) for tasty food, filling scriptures, and nourishing discussions.
And the best laughter, anywhere.
Join us.
Blessings,
Steve
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