The case presented against Ebenezer Scrooge last week was
rock solid. To escape conviction as a
tight-fisted, stingy, hard, unfeeling man who cares for nothing and nobody
other than Money, he is going to have to present a very strong, even unique,
defense. He doesn’t disappoint.
“I’m not the man I used to be.”
That’s it. Scrooge
does not—cannot—deny the witness of those who suffered most at his greedy
hands. He cannot change history. He sadly admits that he lost many an
opportunity to do good with his wealth, that he allowed riches to crowd out
human companionship.
Yes, Scrooge actually enjoys keeping books and tracking
money. But that is not his crime; it is
that it became his only passion. His business prospered while his soul shrank.
“I’m not the man I used to be.”
Ask the men he encountered on the street that one Christmas
morning who were so taken by his kind demeanor that they spontaneously
exclaimed, “Merry Christmas, sir!” Or Bob
Cratchit who the next morning became the beneficiary of a generous raise in
salary. Or Bob’s son, Tiny Tim, who, it
might be said, owes his life to Ebenezer Scrooge.
“I’m not the man I used to be.”
We all have our “gifts”, our talents. Scrooge and I find fulfillment in keeping financial
records. I enjoy writing this blog. Bookkeeping and writing: two things I know
most people would be loathe to do even for a salary. I only hope that I’ve never let it interfere
with doing the right thing and that it has never prevented me from experiencing love and
friendship with fellow travelers on this planet.
Scrooge blew it, no doubt about that. But he changed, and that changed the world
around him into a better place. No one
could have predicted that outcome from Scrooge’s earlier days. But that doesn’t matter. It’s not how we start out, it’s how we end
up. And that we can say that
has a great deal to do with the event we celebrate this week.
“I’m not the man I used to be.”
Merry Christmas to you.
Roger
“For unto us a Child
is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on his
shoulders. And He will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah
9:6 NIV®*
*Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New
International Version® NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™
Used by permission.
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