I’d like to think that before I was a Mason that I looked at life from multiple angles. Clearly, I was trying. I saw the Holidays as a time, a season, a single episode in the yet to be determined series that would become my life. It wasn’t until I reached my 30s that I really understood the meaning of Christmastime.

I was thumbing through the TV guide one Christmas Eve, looking for something to watch during the downtime between putting the kids to bed and before we prepared for Santa’s arrival. My eye caught the title It’s a Wonderful Life. Somehow I had made it this far in life without seeing the Holiday classic. I remember my father making a big deal when NBC started airing it in 1994. To me, it was an old black-and-white movie; I preferred 24-hours of The Christmas Story on TBS. Sorry, Dad, I’ll leave the nostalgia to you. But something was different that night. I decided to make the two hours and fifteen-minute commitment with a full bottle of wine. After all, it was my duty to be sure that the kids were really asleep.

It’s a Wonderful Life is part of my holiday routine. And every year, when I sit down to watch it, something new in the film gets my attention. How Bedford Falls represents “Everytown, USA.” The bridge scene, where even with the gritty black and white film, in your mind, you can see how deep that water is and imagine how cold it must be. Knowing the hidden pain in George Bailey’s eyes every time something in his life goes wrong. The joy that causes his voice to crack when everyone in town comes to his aid. I find a quiet night, start the movie, and enjoy the experience.

The second part of Clarence’s line almost brought a tear to my eye when I thought of Brothers who have laid down their Working Tools this year. Those men who were pillars in our Lodges as role models and mentors, whose encouraging words or kind smiles made us feel welcome and valued. And while I had visions of my Brothers who have gone to join the Grand Architect of the Universe, I also thought of a Brother who I haven’t seen at a Lodge meeting in a few years.

Work, his family, and caring for his aging mother are all reasons why he hasn’t been able to attend meetings. He also lost the passion for knowledge that could fill a small library because of a disagreement with his Brothers. I still hope that someday, he chooses to put on his dark suit and tie and surprise me at a meeting. A few days after watching the movie, I sent this Brother a text just to see how everything is in his world.

Lying in bed after the movie, I stared up at the dark ceiling above to reflect on this year. I realized that there’s a reason why we love It’s a Wonderful Life: watching George Bailey’s story causes us to examine our own. We choose to gather with our closest family and friends this time of year for a reason. We want to remember this feeling, knowing that years from now, those hugs from grandparents or the sound of giggling kids will be our most precious memories.

Reflecting on the Masonic year has the same effect. Dinners, ritual practices, community service, the raising of new Brothers. Those moments serve as the highlights of our year. While we may know the men we share that time with, we may never truly understand the significance of these shared experiences in their life. This “ripple effect” is a theme I understood throughout the movie. Somehow this year, the mix of new relationships and old memories made a deeper connection to the difference we make as Masons in the lives of those we interact with. “Remember, no man is a failure who has friends.”

Wherever you are this year, my Brother, I send you the warmest Holiday Greetings. May you continue to bring Light to every life you touch.