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by James Dillon (Author)
"It's a Wonderful Life" has become an important holiday tradition for families.
But why does the movie have such a profound effect on people and what are its major themes?
James Dillon answers those questions by highlighting the movie's recurring motifs and themes. As someone who has walked a similar path to George Bailey, he's the perfect person to tell this story and share life lessons such as:
- Sometimes, miracles simply involve looking at things differently.
- Viewing the movie through a lens of spiritual faith can be a productive way to move closer to the Lord.
- George's life is a journey and a struggle to discover what was there from the beginning, what was always with him even in times of darkness, and what would be there at the end: God's love.
The author also explores the background and context of the movie's origins, the life of its director, Frank Capra, and its place in our culture. Suggestions to facilitate small group discussions are included.
Take a spiritual journey and reflect on your faith and purpose with The Gospel of "It's a Wonderful Life."
Author Biography
James Dillon has been an educator for more than forty years, including twenty years of service as a school administrator. He is also the author of The Peaceful School Bus (Hazelden, 2008), No Place for Bullying: Leadership for Schools that Care for Every Student (Corwin, 2012), Reframing Bullying Prevention to Build Stronger School Communities (Corwin, 2015), Marching with Dr. King (Createspace, 2017), the children's picture book Okay Kevin (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2017) and Using Stories for Professional Development: 35 Tales to Promote Reflection and Discussion (Routledge, 2020). He is an educational consultant for Measurement Incorporated, which sponsors the Center for Leadership and Bullying Prevention. He lives in Niskayuna, New York, with his wife, Louisa.
