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GOD BLESS US EVERYONE!
Almost everyone will recognise the above quotation which comes from the novel
“A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. The book has gone through many editions, a number of film versions, stage productions and was even made into a musical. The story is of a rich but miserly man called Ebenezer Scrooge and of how his lifestyle is completely changed when he sees a review of his life and is given a glimpse of his future life and of how it will end.
As Spiritualists we all know that when we make our transition to the next world we will have to watch a review of our life which has just ended. This will be quite a daunting experience as we will see how our every word and action affected those around us. We also know that one of the Seven Principles of Spiritualism is “Compensation and Retribution hereafter for all the good and evil deeds done on earth.” In the words of our beloved Teacher and Guide Silver Birch “Whatever good you do you are the better for it. Whatever selfishness you have shown you are the worse for it.” In other words we make or mar our spiritual destiny.
Now supposing like Scrooge we are shown are past and present actions and then saw the result of these actions unfolding right to the end of our life and how they affected others. I wonder would it make us stop and think and resolve to live a kinder and more honest and compassionate life. This is exactly what happens to Scrooge when he is visited by three Ghosts. The Ghost of Christmas Past shows Scrooge what his life might have been like had he not become so obsessed by money. The Ghost of Christmas Present shows Scrooge what a present day Christmas is like in London for the poor and needy and it is during this ghost’s visit that Scrooge sees Tiny Tim, the crippled son of his office clerk, and his heart is touched by the boy’s plight. The final visit is from the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come and here Scrooge is shown the end of his life and his recent death. He watches with horror the disposal of his possessions and how some people are relieved to learn of his death. He begs to have his life restored and promises to change his ways.
To his great relief and joy he finds himself back home and joy of joys it is Christmas Day! There is still time for him to change his ways. He has been given a second chance! Dickens story could be described as a story with a moral. Scrooge is a mean and spiteful character with a complete lack of concern for his fellow man. At the end of the story he is a reformed character. Now filled with the spirit of Christmas he starts to spend his money on charitable deeds. He becomes devoted to Tiny Tim who has given Scrooge a change of heart and made him think of all humanity and not his own selfish ends.
I think that the present Pandemic has shown us that there is still a great deal of goodness and kindness in our world. We have seen volunteers, neighbours and charitable organizations
helping others during the present lockdown. Let us all resolve this Christmas to do our bit to make the world a better place for all God’s people as we remember the words of Tiny Tim “God Bless us everyone.”
Seasons Greetings.
ADA McKAY
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