Ah, Christmas

People have asked me why I revere Christmas. I am an atheist and my children are long out of the nest. What is there to celebrate? Well, my mother loved the holidays and she wanted a slice of magic to feed her family. She worked desperately against the odds. My original primary reason to love Christmas was inspired by her struggle, which usually culminated in stalemate. And then I discovered A Christmas Carol. As we know, the story doesn’t focus on the story of Jesus, but on the foibles of Ebenezer Scrooge and the lessons he learned of love and compassion. Every year when I watch the old back and white movie I dwell on the youngsters described thusly:

“This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased. Deny it!" cried the Spirit, stretching out its hand towards the city. "Slander those who tell it ye! Admit it for your factious purposes, and make it worse. And bide the end!" "Have they no refuge or resource?" cried Scrooge. "Are there no prisons?" said the Spirit, turning on him for the last time with his own words. "Are there no workhouses?”

Overall, for me, the message of Peace on Earth is real. I no longer believe we are capable to achieve it, but it is a worthy goal. We humans who had the means to ensure a near-utopian world have likely blown the last best chance. I feel like the musicians must have felt aboard the sinking Titanic. Still I will celebrate Christmas.