Monday, December 24, 2012

Update: A Christmas Message

As a retired teacher, I am well familiar with the works of Charles Dickens. Although his literary legacy is one of predominantly lengthy works, he is probably best remembered for his shortest one, A Christmas Carol, the story of Ebeneezer Scrooge, a nasty man consumed by the cost of everything but unable to recognize the value of anything. His redemption comes when he realizes the perversion of his life perspective.

Yesterday we went to Niagara on the Lake for a reading of the tale by some Shaw Festival actors who graciously invited my daughter, who has been very involved for several years in local theatre in the Hamilton-Toronto area, to be one of the narrators.

Listening to this very professional rendition, I was struck by both the simplicity and depth of Dickens' theme, one which our contemporary world seems to go to great pains to encourage us to forget. The promotion of rampant consumerism and the consequent impoverishment of both our environment and our spirit is one that cannot be sustained much longer, yet it seems to be the nature of the corporate agenda which, sadly, so many of us have become infused with, never to look beyond the next quarterly profit statement, no matter what the larger cost may be. At the same time, of course, the gulf between the haves and the have-nots widens, the underlying causes ignored while we apply only band-aid solutions like food banks and shelters, which ultimately only enable the status quo to remain intact.

In A Christmas Carol, Ebeneezer Scrooge learns before it is too late that the things of real value have little to do with things material. Would that we could learn, and take to heart, the same lesson.

UPDATE: I just got a chance to sit down with today's Star. A letter by Joy Taylor of Scarborough, along Dow Marmur's column, seem particularly appropriate reading at this time of year.

6 comments:

  1. I think it is coming, Lorne. I see and hear more of this sentiment all the time, and most of the people in my life feel this way. I actually feel kind of hopeful these days (as opposed to the mostly despairing I usually feel).

    I love A Christmas Carol. The CBC did a reading of it locally for years and I loved that the readers brought something slightly different to it every year. It felt new every year.

    Thanks for this wise and thoughtful blog. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

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    1. Thank you, Karen, and the same to you and your family.

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  2. May the spirit of the season keep your heart warm and fuel your hope for a better future, Lorne. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

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  3. It's interesting how timeless Dickens' message is, Lorne.

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    1. Indeed, Owen; the fact that it is as relevant as ever says a lot about both our aspirations and our limitations.

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  4. Many thanks, Beijing, and the same to you and your family.

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