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Don't be a Scrooge this Christmas

Nicole Russell   Paste BN

“Marley was dead, to begin with.”  

That’s the introduction of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” a classic novella about three ghosts who “visit” Ebenezer Scrooge on Christmas Eve.  

It’s embedded in my brain because my Dad loves the story. Growing up, I went to the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis to see the play. 

The story, a social commentary that Dickens wrote after a difficult childhood and while under financial pressure, offers many lessons. Despite the dour setting, just seeing one of the many film versions or reading the story again evokes feelings of warmth, generosity and Christmas cheer.  

The main point of the story is to live, and not just at Christmas time, as a generous person, even when life looks bleak.  

It’s a good reminder for me today. A lot of heartbreaking stories have dominated the news recently. From the horrifying murder of the CEO of UnitedHealthcare to the school shooting this week in Wisconsin, Americans have understandably reacted with sadness and anger. 

My latest: Drone fears sore – rightly so. We can't trust Biden's government.

I struggle to be warm and festive when I see so much heartbreak around me – but then I’m reminded that Scrooge also saw the world as a dark, cold place. Bitter due to heartbreak, Scrooge focused on getting rich and chose to reject his family, love, generosity and empathy.  

After the ghosts of Christmases past, present and future visit him, reality sets in. His mindset changes, and he finally embraces the people and the values he had rejected. 

There will always be hard news in the world. There will always be crime, poverty, disappointment and heartbreak. If we dwell only on that part of reality, we too will grow bitter and stingy like Scrooge. I don’t want that. I want to live with kindness, purpose and generosity.  

In these final days before Christmas, read “A Christmas Carol” again – or watch one of the film versions. Soak in the beautiful story. It’s not the reason for Christmas – we’ll get to that next week – but it’s a great reminder to live with gratefulness and generosity. 

Like Scrooge said, “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach.” 

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