It took me a long time to realize that two of our family’s most beloved Christmas stories are both about men given an opportunity by heaven to see frightening visions of their own lives.
Very good insights, Samuel. Fear does discourage risk-taking, and the biggest fears of your generation seem to be rejection, falling short of expectations, being seen as a loser in life's game. Maybe that's true for every generation. We do experience rejection on the quest for love and acceptance, we do fail at things we tell ourselves we must succeed at. There needs to be a quality of resilience that comes from an inner source of hope that says God has something good for you if you keep pursuing it. Jesus said seek first his kingdom and righteousness. Seeking implies not giving up. Believing and moving forward and continuing to take risks. Too many young people seem to me to be giving up, despairing, packing it in and accepting the dark instead of seeking God's light. Having a vision of what may be is vital. But also vital is something the church might do, which is encouraging young men and women to reject despair and keep hope alive.
This is profound, Samuel, both in your call to action and in your juxtaposition of these two Christmas tales to showcase their power to inspire and move. As one of those women you speak of, who yet prays to be blessed by a godly man's strength and fidelity, thank you.
“The Ghost of Christmas Never would haunt men of my generation by showing them visions of a home where they give and receive love and fidelity…. They might even grasp, just for a moment, what it means to love as Christ loved.”
This reminds me of the Nicolas Cage movie “The Family Man,” (and I mourn the unavailability of the “edited for TV version” with less language) where a rich Wall Street bachelor gets a glimpse of the family he could have had, the children that will never exist because he put career over relationships.
My son is afraid of dogs. Walking on the sidewalk, he chose to go into the street rather than face the dog; and there was a car coming. Thankfully I was there and tragedy was averted. But it reminded me of how our fears drive us to self-destruction when our fears are not ordered properly. The leashed dog wouldn't hurt him but the car would have. The most repeated command in scripture is "Fear not!" and it is almost as if God says "Ok, but if you are going to fear something, fear Me." (Prov 28:14)
Very good insights, Samuel. Fear does discourage risk-taking, and the biggest fears of your generation seem to be rejection, falling short of expectations, being seen as a loser in life's game. Maybe that's true for every generation. We do experience rejection on the quest for love and acceptance, we do fail at things we tell ourselves we must succeed at. There needs to be a quality of resilience that comes from an inner source of hope that says God has something good for you if you keep pursuing it. Jesus said seek first his kingdom and righteousness. Seeking implies not giving up. Believing and moving forward and continuing to take risks. Too many young people seem to me to be giving up, despairing, packing it in and accepting the dark instead of seeking God's light. Having a vision of what may be is vital. But also vital is something the church might do, which is encouraging young men and women to reject despair and keep hope alive.
This is profound, Samuel, both in your call to action and in your juxtaposition of these two Christmas tales to showcase their power to inspire and move. As one of those women you speak of, who yet prays to be blessed by a godly man's strength and fidelity, thank you.
This may be the best thing I’ve read all year. Truly superb. Thank you!
All too true...
“The Ghost of Christmas Never would haunt men of my generation by showing them visions of a home where they give and receive love and fidelity…. They might even grasp, just for a moment, what it means to love as Christ loved.”
This reminds me of the Nicolas Cage movie “The Family Man,” (and I mourn the unavailability of the “edited for TV version” with less language) where a rich Wall Street bachelor gets a glimpse of the family he could have had, the children that will never exist because he put career over relationships.
My son is afraid of dogs. Walking on the sidewalk, he chose to go into the street rather than face the dog; and there was a car coming. Thankfully I was there and tragedy was averted. But it reminded me of how our fears drive us to self-destruction when our fears are not ordered properly. The leashed dog wouldn't hurt him but the car would have. The most repeated command in scripture is "Fear not!" and it is almost as if God says "Ok, but if you are going to fear something, fear Me." (Prov 28:14)