White Christmas is a film with so many layers of meaning and depth. Of course, there are great song and dance numbers, songs by Irving Berlin, budding romances with Betty & Bob and Phil & Judy, and a charming Vermont inn. Bob and Phil entertained troops with song and dance during WWII, which seemingly also saved their lives and helped them establish purpose and humor during a catastrophic time.
But then life moved on into post-war life. They do not realize their General is struggling to get his small Vermont inn booked with acts and guests. So, they strive to honor General Waverly, the man who bravely led them into battle and who now runs a forgotten inn. The General is no longer considered valuable by the Army and must retire, despite his history of bravery and valiant leadership. Waverly feels alone and forgotten.
Haven’t we also been there before — alone, in despair? We have been desperately seeking a dream (sometimes second best to our original dream) — the silence is palpable, and there seems no way out. Or more devastating — few friends who will navigate the pain and have abandoned us to navigate the pain alone. For General Waverly, without snow in Vermont (a place known for skiing and winter wonders), few guests will choose to come to his inn.
Until… Phil and Bob step in and invite their entire Army unit to Vermont to save the inn. Of course, it snows in the last iconic scene. Once again on Christmas Eve, the soldiers surprise General Waverly with another rousing chorus when he arrives at the show, bringing him to tears.
The friendships he forged in battle returned to him tenfold. His tears of joy were also tears of relief. He feels gratitude for those friends and feels noticed and seen and honored. I am called to the same, to bless and honor those who are important in my life.
This film moves me to tears every time, and reminds me of the values we cherish during the holidays. I also note the kindnesses of those who are willing to sit with me in grief, or note the struggles of a situation without an immediate response to fix the burden, and decide to walk through pain with me, even in moments I can only whisper a prayer.
This is where Waverly found his miracle. What miracle are you seeking this holiday season?
A native of Southern California, Caroline Mertens moved to Colorado as a teen. She received her B.A. in English and Secondary Education from Colorado Christian University in Denver. Her grandmother's immigration tales of adventure, love, pain, and redemption provided ample amounts of hope, grace, and literary inspiration for her debut, In Those Other Lands.
After a season of work in the Netherlands, England, and France, Caroline returned to Colorado. Over the years, she has worked as a magazine editor, a professional writer, and an assistant to a Young Life director. However, Caroline's most fulfilling career is teaching high school English and Creative Writing. She strives to encourage teenagers to read what they love, and inspires her students to engage in purposeful creative writing. Caroline is passionate about traveling, cooking Indonesian food, and exploring Colorado with her family.
Leave A Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.