The quote that came to mind today was when Scrooge is facing the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. "The Phantom slowly, gravely, silently approached. When it came, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery.
It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand. But for this, it would have been difficult to detach its figure from the night and separate it from the darkness by which it was surrounded...
Although well used to ghostly company by this time, Scrooge feared the silent shape so much that his legs trembled beneath him, and he found that he could hardly stand when he prepared to follow it...
"Ghost of the Future!" he exclaimed, "I fear you more than any spectre I have seen."The random thought came that Scrooge feared what the Ghost of Christmas yet to come would show him. Could this be because up to this point, Scrooge had very little hope? All he saw was the harsh reality that had been his past and that he saw in the present because of his own ignorance. With a foundation like that, how could the future be anything other than grim?
But for those who know the story well, things take a very different turn for poor old Scrooge. Instead of continuing on his present path, he learns to keep the spirit of Christmas alive every day of the year...and as we all know, Christmas is the day we remember that God sent Light and Hope into our world. We never again see Scrooge fearing that ghostly apparition. In fact, it seems he lived with joy.
"He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world. Some people laughed to see the alteration in him, but he let them laugh, and little heeded them; for he was wise enough to know that nothing ever happened on this globe, for good, at which some people did not have their fill of laughter in the outset; and knowing that such as these would be blind anyway, he thought it quite as well that they should wrinkle up their eyes in grins, as have the malady in less attractive forms. His own heart laughed: and that was quite enough for him.
He had no further intercourse with Spirits, but lived upon the Total Abstinence Principle, ever afterwards; and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us!
Scrooge's first name is Ebenezer, which is a Hebrew name that means stone of help. The name “Ebenezer” actually comes from the Bible. In 1 Samuel, Israel has experienced revival after repenting of their sin (much as Scrooge saw the error in his own past) and destroying their idols - (much as Scrooge destroyed his idol of money.) During this time, their enemy attacked and God sent supernatural help (I guess in the story A Christmas Carol, the ghosts could also be considered 'supernatural help.') When the battle was won, they set up a rock and named it Ebenezer, saying "Thus far the LORD has helped us." It became a constant reminder of how God had saved them and continued to do so.
Ebenezer Scrooge has for many become a reminder that we need to let go of our own past, destroy our idols, and live in the hope God gives for the future.
May your random thoughts today turn you toward the hope of the upcoming day. And for those who mourn because of loved ones who are not still with us, may you also find rejoicing in that they are waiting for you in heaven with open arms. They are free of worry and pain and the daily struggles of life. The same God that delivered in the Old Testament still delivers today. We need not fear the future.
"And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!"
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