25 Thoughts on “A Christmas Carol” – December 10th

Happy Christmas Dear Readers,

“'You are fettered,' said Scrooge, trembling. ‘Tell me why?'

'I wear the chain I forged in life,' replied the Ghost. 'I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it. Is irs pattern strange to you?'

Scrooge trembled more and more.

'Or would you know,' pursued the Ghost, 'the weight and length of the strong coil you bear yourself? It was full as heavy and as long as this, seven Christmas Eves ago. You have laboured on it, since. It is a ponderous chain!'”

Ultimately, the burdens we carry through life and retain in death are of our own choosing. We are bitter because we choose to be. We divorce our spouses because we are hard hearted and refuse to believe that God will honor us if we keep our vows. We lie because we fear the truth or seek gain through our deception. We are greedy because we do not believe that Christ will truly provide for us.

If we centered that which we forge in our lives upon Christ then our burdens would evaporate. What chains do we forge unseen upon our hearts and our spirits? What burdens do we carry that could be set aside were we to just lay them at Christ’s feet? I would know the “weight and length of the strong coil” I bear but I fear it would kill me. Instead I focus on forging a chain that is fettered to the gospel. I seek to make links of kindness, love, and grace to which I fastened myself when I accepted Christ and his cross.

I fail at this and sometimes forge chains that are ones I would rather not bear. Oh that it were so easy to see when we add to and take away from out burdens. Since it is not we can only assure that we lighten our load by fixing out hearts and hopes upon Christ and following him in every moment.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a home owner. He brings new and old things out of his treasure store."

25 Thoughts on “A Christmas Carol” – December 9th

“’Man of the worldly mind, do you believe in me or not?’

'I do,' said Scrooge. 'I must. But why do spirits walk the earth, and why do they come to me?'

'It is required of every man,' the Ghost returned, 'that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide; and if that spirit goes not forth in life, it is condemned to do so after death. It is doomed to wander through the world-oh, woe is me!-and witness what it cannot share, but might have shared on earth, and turned to happiness.'”

Do we see truly others in the state in which they reside? Does our spirit walk about reaching out to the spirits of others? Do we instead carry our pains and hurts like Marley’s cash boxes fettering us to a solitariness that hinders our ability to share our richness in Christ. Do we ignore opportunities to turn pain to happiness?

While the theology here is flawed the point is spot on the mark. Our spirit is intended to go abroad and show to others the richness that can be realized in Christ while we walk the mortal world. We have a continuing opportunity to follow Christ alone in our generosity, kindness, love, and grace. We can choose to daily show these qualities to others and truly turn other lives to happiness. Our spirits, yielded to Christ in generosity and kindness can warm others to the truth we have to share.

Focusing on this adamant of heart and spirit also leaves us little time to complain and pity our own seeming lack of substance or stature. There is nothing we need that Christ will not provide for us if we follow him. We can leave behind the concern for our own needs and wants and invest ourselves in the nurture and care of others. Doing this guarantees that Christ is free to in turn nurture us. I can think of nothing better than our focus on those who need the affection of our generous spirit resulting in the sharpening of Christ’s focus on our own needs.

My spirit will go abroad to others no matter what state I am in personally. Come walk with me if you wish.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a home owner. He brings new and old things out of his treasure store."

25 Thoughts on “A Christmas Carol” – December 8th

Happy Christmas Dear Readers,

“The owner of one scant young nose, gnawed and mumbled by the hungry cold as bones are gnawed by dogs, stooped down at Scrooge's keyhole to regale him with a Christmas carol: but at the first sound of 'God bless you, merry gentleman. May nothing you dismay!' Scrooge seized the ruler with such energy of action, that the singer fled in terror, leaving the keyhole to the fog and even more congenial frost.”

I sing Christmas carols all the time as I shop, work, or putter around the house. I have often been joined in my humming a Christmas tune in the checkout line at the grocer’s. The music of the season, especially the song mentioned above floats through me like a steady stream of good humor and love for those around me.

I have, on a few occasions been scolded for singing Christmas hymns. I have heard accusations that I am “forcing my religion” on people. Mostly this comes from people who would demand that I be tolerant and accepting of views differing from mine while they condemn my views. What is it in us that causes us to resent the celebration of others? How is it that we are not satisfied with our own misery but must visit it loudly on others?

Earlier on Dickens tells us that Scrooge is “secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster.” That would seem to be opposite to his insistence that those who celebrate and make merry should somehow be punished for their merriment. But do we not do the same. We hear the good feelings of others and their expressed joy and do our level best to dampen their good spirits if we do not share them. It is so easy to see our own miseries and use them to diminish the joy of others.

We could instead choose to share in the joy others feel and so for a space forget about our own troubles. I have often found that if I celebrate that which cheers another’s heart them my heart is also warm. Rejoicing in the happiness of friends helps my heart to strike a more generous fire. Perhaps that is the very thing that it is intended to do for me.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

25 Thoughts on “A Christmas Carol” – December 7th

Happy Christmas Dear Readers,

“'I wish to be left alone,' said Scrooge. ’since you ask me what I wish, gentlemen, that is my answer. I don't make merry myself at Christmas and I can't afford to make idle people merry. I help to support the establishments I have mentioned-they cost enough; and those who are badly off must go there.'
'Many can't go there; and many would rather die.'
'If they would rather die,' said Scrooge, 'they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.’”

Scrooge is willing for others to die to protect his hard and solitary world. I wonder if we do not do the same with much more subtlety or ignorance. Each time we avert our eyes from the Salvation Army Kettle or ignore the homeless person looking for a meal we are doing the same. Who are we to put anything above the needs of our fellow man?

We do live in a world where humans created by God are viewed as “surplus population.” People are killed daily in the name of convenience. In Brazil’s large cities they hunt and kill homeless children and the government condones it privately for the sake of tourism. Genocide goes unchecked in countries whose names we cannot pronounce. Abortion clinics turn a profit as women decrease their private surplus population in the name of convenience.

We would never admit to this horrible attitude so we use euphemisms to keep the language to our liking. We cluck our tongues at large scale inhumanity while secretly being thankful that it is happening a on other continents or at least away from us. We all know people in need. We all can make a difference even if it is only minor. We cannot afford to continue to deceive ourselves into thinking that the responsibility lies with someone else.

Perhaps we need to ponder what our true duty is and realize what a selfish sentiment it is when we “wish to be left alone.” We are not self contained or solitary even if we profess to be so. No one is truly independent of others. Every man’s hunger, hurt, and need is my hunger, hurt, or need as well. “Every man’s death diminishes me” and I should take little comfort in the existence of social charities as I do not have the right to pawn off my obligations on them. Do we dare just drop a few pennies in the red kettle and continue on our way unchanged?

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a home owner. He brings new and old things out of his treasure store."

25 Thoughts on “A Christmas Carol” – December 6th

Happy Christmas Dear Readers,

“'At this festive season of the year, Mister Scrooge,' said the gentleman, taking up a pen, 'it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the Poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir.'
'Are there no prisons?' asked Scrooge.
'Plenty of prisons,' said the gentleman, laying down the pen again.
'And the Union workhouses.' demanded Scrooge. 'Are they still in operation?'
'They are. Still,' returned the gentleman,' I wish I could say they were not.'
'The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?' said Scrooge.
'Both very busy, sir.'
'Oh. I was afraid, from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their useful course,' said Scrooge. 'I'm very glad to hear it.'”

What would I give up to make others’ burdens less? I have stood on both sides of the giving; being giver and receiver. One of my foremost areas of pride can be in allowing others to give to me. I have been homeless briefly. I have been poor and rich. Both are very burdensome though I think that most of us would willingly suffer the later rather than the former.

In much of the world today is celebrated as Saint Nicholas Day. He was a bishop who gave to the extent that his giving became legendary and evolved into what is our modern day Santa Clause. His efforts were to bring sustenance and joy to children in need. He knew that those who follow Christ were responsible for the social welfare of those in their community. A friend of mine recently posited that counting on government to do the work commissioned to Christ followers is like giving the master work of craftsmen over to an apprentice.

I wonder if we count on the government welfare systems to provide for the poor to the extent that we avoid personal involvement in caring for the needs of our fellow man. Do we console the tugs of our conscience when we encounter those in need by reminding ourselves of the professional organizations that address want and need? Even when organizations devoted to social welfare do their work well, it does not relieve us of the burden to be personally involved.

I am responsible for my fellow man. I am my brother’s keeper. Every man’s death diminishes me. If a family is hungry and I turn my face away then I starve my own spirit. If I see the homeless and do nothing to help, then I am moving into my own unsheltered wilderness. You get my point. To turn away from the needs of others, believing that someone will help is to spurn the very Spirit of Christ that is to go abroad in all of us.

Scrooge used the existence of social welfare to justify his refusal to aide others and enhance his self containment. If we truly wish to make a difference we must avoid the same behavior. There are shelters and there are refuges. The Salvation Army is in full seasonal march serving up “salvation ala mode and a cup of tea.” I would they were not necessary. The only way that can ever be true is if everyone who claims to follow Christ did their best to infuse true help into the lives of those who need it.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a home owner. He brings new and old things out of his treasure store."

25 Thoughts on “A Christmas Carol” – December 5th

Happy Christmas Dear Readers,

“If I could work my will,' said Scrooge indignantly, 'every idiot who goes about with 'Merry Christmas' on his lips, should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart!'”

How strongly Scrooge despises those who dare to be merry in the midst of his miserly misery. He rather creative torture for those who dare to wish others Merry Christmas is not really that far from the culture of our current society. We are urged to deliver “Happy Holidays” or “Seasons Greetings” so as to adhere to the proper political climate. I have actually been berated for wishing others a “Merry Christmas.”

I wonder what it would do to the world if Christ followers were to as one determine that they would deliver heartfelt Christmas wishes to everyone and live the spirit to support the wishes. What of the other alternative. As it becomes unpopular to say “Merry Christmas” will we water down the wish for others to celebrate the advent of Christ to appear that we fit into a more neutral society. Are we willing to be the lone voice in the mall asking from the heart for others to remember who it is that gives us cause to celebrate?

I also ponder if we would shrink away from wishing the joys of Christmas to others were it to really cost us our lives. Were we to face death by boiling or being staked in the heart, would we still proclaim the advent of Christ to others? It costs us nothing to be Christian now, but what if the world were different? Whose will would work in us then? Would we still go about with “Merry Christmas” on our lips? I hope I would. - Merry Christmas and God save you.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a home owner. He brings new and old things out of his treasure store."

25 Thoughts on “A Christmas Carol” – December 4th

Happy Christmas Dear Readers,

“'A merry Christmas, uncle! God save you!' cried a cheerful voice. It was the voice of Scrooge's nephew, who came upon him so quickly that this was the first intimation he had of his approach.
'Bah!' said Scrooge, 'Humbug!'
He had so heated himself with rapid walking in the fog and frost, this nephew of Scrooge's, that he was all in a glow; his face was ruddy and handsome; his eyes sparkled, and his breath smoked again.
'Christmas a humbug, uncle!' said Scrooge's nephew. 'You don't mean that, I am sure?'
'I do,' said Scrooge. 'Merry Christmas! What right have you to be merry? What reason have you to be merry? You're poor enough.'”

Fred is an amazing example of grace and forbearance. He is determined to be kind to Scrooge no matter what Scrooge’s attitude. It is Fred’s intent that Scrooge be saved. He draws from Scrooge a statement of his true feelings. Scrooge equates merriment with the possession of wealth. As Fred later points out this is a contradiction as Scrooge is wealthy and not merry at all.

So though Scrooge is trustworthy in matters of business (as we have seen earlier), he is at least deceiving himself in matters of true happiness. So often we equate our own happiness with what we posses, want, or think we need. So much of our self image and worth can become tied up in what we own.

This false self causes us to put the gathering of things ahead of the giving of good will, love, and compassion to others. Do we truly wish for others to go into debt to live up to the pretense of gift giving? Why can our merriment not be based on what our hearts posses in good will to others? What is the possible joy if we invest our energies into mankind instead of into clothing, gadgets, and rich food?

I am not saying that giving gifts to our friends and family is wrong. I am saying that we need to focus on giving much more of ourselves and not on material things. Our joy must come from what Christmas is over what we get or buy for others. We can raise the level of everyone’s spirits by infusing into their lives a genuine wish for them to have the best that Christmas has to offer…the joy that is Christ.

Too often we equate material security with happiness. It is too easy, like Scrooge, to question the satisfaction of others because we lack our own serenity. Perhaps as the season builds we can all go about wishing others a proper “Merry Christmas” in the hopes that God will save those to whom we wish it.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a home owner. He brings new and old things out of his treasure store."

25 Thoughts on “A Christmas Carol” – December 3rd

Happy Christmas Dear Readers,

“The door of Scrooge's counting-house was open that he might keep his eye upon his clerk, who in a dismal little cell beyond, a sort of tank was copying letters. Scrooge had a very small fire, but the clerk's fire was so very much smaller that it looked like one coal. But he couldn't replenish it, for Scrooge kept the coal-box in his own room; and so surely as the clerk came in with the shovel, the master predicted that it would be necessary for them to part. Wherefore the clerk put on his white comforter, and tried to warm himself at the candle; in which effort, not being a man of a strong imagination, he failed.”

How often do we see those in want or need every day but do not act? Scrooge’s actions are by design and with intent, but those done out of ignorance and want are no less harmful or wrong. It is not enough to say we did not know someone had a need. Should we not be constantly looking out for the needs of others? Should we not be aware of the things that trouble those around; wanting the opportunity to assist when we can?

Every day we are in proximity to need whether it is emotional, mental, or physical. We have the power every day to make others lives richer and we need only reach out our hearts to do it. What is the real cost to us to be cheerful to our coworkers? There are clerks we encounter daily or weekly who need a kind word and a smile. If we begin this Christmas season by developing the habit of kindness to others, perhaps it will endure long after the tree is taken down and Aunt Martha’s over sized sweater is buried deep in the closet.

Perhaps we can begin a habit of kindness to others today and hold fast throughout the year. Christmas by it very nature is a celebration of God being kind to us when we neither deserved it nor truly wanted it. If God would go so far to bring us so much should not at least attempt to be kind to other on his behalf?

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a home owner. He brings new and old things out of his treasure store."

25 Thoughts on “A Christmas Carol” – December 2nd

Happy Christmas Dear Readers,

“Oh! But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge. A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner! Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shriveled his cheek, stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue; and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice. A frosty rime was on his head, and on his eyebrows, and his wiry chin. He carried his own low temperature always about with him; he iced his office in the dog-days; and didn't thaw it one degree at Christmas”.

Miserly or not, we all know someone who is cold or dower. We all know someone who carries “his own low temperature always with him.” I would ask what we are doing to thaw him or her. Do we really see those soured on life as an opportunity to thaw a frozen heart? If for no other reason than to make our own world more pleasant, we can be the ones who reach into the flint hearts of others to help strike a generous fire in them.

We do, however, have many others reasons to soften the hearts of others. The primary reason should be the reclamation of that individual from his own pain and torment. No one so bent on keeping out the warmth of friendship and love can be at peace within himself. Secondary but no less important is the good it does us to be aware of the needs of others for it works within us to make us more aware of our own hard heartedness.

So far in our story, Marley is dead and Scrooge is at least greedy and antisocial in addition being cold. What we can always do is express kindness and warmth without expectation of return. If we always leave an open door then those who begin to thaw in their hearts will know that our door is open. An act of kindness is never wasted as it does us good to do it.

We also place great potential for Christ to work in the hearts of others when they see us showing loving-kindness in humility and grace. As we begin our walk with Dickens it is important to understand that this tale wishes for all of us to see the potential in the pre-ghost Scrooges of the world. We may never know the thawing impact of common kindness on a frozen flint heart. We can know though that we offered that kindness and did so with the fire of generous love in our hearts.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

25 Thoughts on “A Christmas Carol” – December 1st

Happy Christmas Dear Readers,

“Marley was dead, to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Scrooge signed it. And Scrooge's name was good upon 'Change, for anything he chose to put his hand to.”

I have often noticed that the thing that gets the most attention from this opening paragraph is that Marley is dead. Dickens makes it quite clear that the importance of Marley being dead is that if he is not then “nothing wonderful can come from” this tale. So the belaboring of the point that Marley is dead makes great sense. I would like, if I may, to point out that there is another thought in this paragraph that is very important.

Reread the paragraph, but especially the last sentence. Almost as a throw away comment, Dickens points out that our “covetous old sinner” is also an honest man. We will later see how greedy, miserly, mean, and hard-hearted Ebenezer Scrooge was. For now though I wish to ponder his honesty. If he truly is a man of his word then Mister Dickens gives us hope in the very first paragraph. We begin the tale knowing that there is hope.

What is Advent if not the Father calling down to us that there is hope? There is a chance that our reclamation is possible. We the covetous sinners are given hope through the incarnation of God in Christ. It is our redemption that is the purpose of the divine taking on the mortal. God made us and journeyed to us when we ran from him. All of this; the birth, the magi, the ghosts, and the story are centered on a single issue. If we honestly look at the world around us we realize that from the womb, we are dead to begin with, and that God has gone and is going to great lengths to bring us back to life.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a home owner. He brings new and old things out of his treasure store."