The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come

I was visited in a dream last night by the Ghost of Christmas Past. He held my hand as we flew past my old church on the West Side, dropped some coins in the collection box, and paused to listen to the choir singing at midnight mass. On we went. Past AM&A’s department store. A “living” Nativity scene. Houses framed by fat colored lights that gave our old neighborhood a cheery glow. Then I was back under the family Christmas tree, opening a homemade stocking filled with walnuts, Hershey’s kisses, and an orange. Next to the tree was the doll of my dreams, Chatty Cathy, with a smile that showed off her two front teeth. Finally, we stopped at Nonni’s house where meatballs bobbed merrily in a sauce pot the size of a whiskey half barrel, and cuccidati and giuggiulena cookies were heaped on a platter and hidden away until dessert time.

Fortunately, I woke up before the Ghosts of Christmas Present and Christmas Yet to Come could take me on their ride. Both the present and future look pretty scary to me right now. But it got me thinking about Charles Dickens and his famous yuletide morality tale, “A Christmas Carol.” I thought about Ebenezer Scrooge and what he learned when he looked at his past, present and future, and how it horrified him.

The Ghost of Christmas Past showed Scrooge how the events of his life thus far had turned him into who he was—a stingy old curmudgeon loved by no one.  The Ghost of Christmas Present showed him how self-centered he was, blind to what was happening all around him, and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come revealed how his life would turn out if he didn’t change his ways.

The most important thing Scrooge learned that night was that the future was mutable. Things could change. Outcomes, while possible, are not predetermined. By looking at his behavior and seeing its logical consequence—an unmourned death and a lonely grave—Scrooge decided to change. As a result, things improved for him and everyone whose lives he touched.

Upon reflection, what I learned during my growing up years and from all my Christmases past, is not only what‘s important on Christmas Day, but what is important in life. Family and friends. Sacrifice and kindness. Finding joy in doing good for others. But sadly, this isn’t what I see when I look around me today. We all see it: bullying, intolerance of the views of others, insensitive comments on social media. Inconsideration. Selfishness.

So I’ve looked at myself, as Scrooge was forced to do, and asked, what kind of person am I? Am I the kind of person I think I am and wish to be? Do I think of others first? Am I kind? Tolerant? Do I listen carefully and try to learn from others when they speak? Or do I mentally shut them off when their views are diametrically opposed to mine? If I can answer yes to any of these questions, I know the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come would tell me it’s time to clean up my act.

Christmas is a time of celebration, of the birth of a child, of love, and of giving to others. It is also a time to take stock and resolve to be better people in the new year. Scrooge was given a chance to turn his life around before it was too late. Let’s hope, collectively, we’re all so lucky.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all,

Moxie