n this dark, confusing time, the touchstone of It's a Wonderful Life can unite, comfort us

The day before our newsletter went to the printer, terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington D.C. changed our lives forever. Amid the shock, anger and sorrow, we are left contemplating a new way of life.

As our leaders have intimated, there is a positive side to any tragedy, no matter how horrific. In a terrifying way, thousands of Americans have now earned their wings. They are like family for all of us whose lives have been spared.

In the months ahead, many Americans will turn to familiar touchstones for comfort and reassurance. One of those, of course, is It's a Wonderful Life. For nearly 55 years, it has exemplified the values we find most dear, but at no time will it bring us together more than during this Christmas season.

The terrorism of Sept. 11 is often compared to the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor that triggered America's participation in World War II. It's a Wonderful Life drew many of its dramatic themes and its very spirit from the devastation and triumph of that very war.

We must now unite to defend the American way of life and the freedoms we enjoy, never forgetting the foundations of that way of life, as embodied by It's a Wonderful Life. The film is often described as sentimental, but it does present deep issues. To examine what makes a man a success is not a lighthearted endeavor. As each year ends, we take stock of our lives, questioning our worth and place in a world that often doesn't behave like we hope for or expect.

George Bailey feels as if he is a failure and wishes he had never been born. But in the end, he discovers that he does fit into the scheme of life and contributes much to the happiness of others. I think there is some of George Bailey in all of us.

Chris recently scouted out a 1947 movie magazine from Australia, Picture Show. It features lengthy coverage of It's a Wonderful Life, calling it "a warm, friendly, human story of a young man who sacrificed his own ambitions for the benefit of the community and found happiness in doing it."

The film's eventual status as a cultural icon was satisfying to both Frank Capra and James Stewart. Capra summed it up best perhaps: "There's more to the picture than I put in it. There's more to it than we thought we had. It's the picture I waited all my life to make."

I look forward to meeting those who come to see me during this festive season and tell me their stories of what the film means to them. I also remind you to watch The Bishop's Wife, another classic whose exposure and message are growing.

In these dark, confusing days, please remember:....

There really are angels!