My friend Charles...

Today I went with my family to see A Christmas Carol, the play based on the book by Charles Dickens. I've seen it so many times, but today some messages that I believe ol' Charles was trying to send really hit me.

Basically, in the story, Scrooge spends his life in pursuit of money, which he hoards and denies from people who need it. Then, three spirits visit Scrooge to show him what his life has meant, or rather, not meant.

The first spirit shows Scrooge the Christmases already past. He didn't have money then, but he was happy. The second spirit shows Scrooge the Christmases of the present. He sees that some live in luxury, but others suffer and are hungry. This spirit has two children with him named "Ignorance" and "Want" and they are the result of the worlds' greed. The last spirit is the ghost of Christmas to come. He shows that Scrooge will die and people will rejoice that he is gone from their lives.

So, here's what I got from this. First, the world will try to make your life about stuff and what you have. But it will never fill you up. If you spend your life investing in people, caring for them in the name of Jesus, it will make your life worth living. Then, when your time on earth is done, it will have meant something because it honored God. And the other point is that if you have a lot and don't do something about the poor who are hungry, you are not living the way you are meant to live. Think about all of that this Christmas as you celebrate.

I think that Charles was a pretty smart guy. : )