Humbugging the " BAH ! " Sayers...

It always distresses me mightily to hear people grousing, " Christmas ~ BAH, HUMBUG ! ", because it's a utilization of a flawed viewpoint initially held by Ebeneezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens' masterfully told, classic Holiday tale, " A Christmas Carol ". The problem is, when taken out of context in such a manner as this, it stops woefully short of reflecting the true message Dickens bequeathed humanity in the lessons learned by Scrooge when all was said and done.

The excuses/reasoning for the "Bah, Humbug!" attitude are as plentiful as they are diverse... and the majority of the time, in my personal experience, postulated by those posessing the very least amount of justification imaginable for embracing this credo.

Wealth and prosperity made Scrooge's world go 'round early on in Dickens' tale... they were his singular concerns to the exclusion of all else... including his own spiritual and physical well-being and that of his fellow man. They also served as a convenient avenue for escape from pain and personal responsibility, just as surely as alcohol and/or drugs do for addicts. But Dickens shows us that this avenue, though seemingly the path of least resistance in navigating through earthly life, leads to seriously hairy consequences once our rubber leaves the road. Fortunately, Scrooge took advantage of a "last call" opportunity ~ and travelled the remaining mileage of his earthly life equipped with seatbelts and an airbag. And in that, Dickens asserts, redemption, salvation, and everlasting life are accorded even the most once-errant souls when they slam head-on into the unyielding brick wall of physical death that eventually claims every earthly existence.

As far back as biblical times, those who have the most meager purses and resources at their disposal abidingly remain those most generous in giving to their fellow man, whether it be in terms of financial aid or the less tangible, though even more valuable, treasures of gifting their time and/or talents, support and/or encouragement, random and often anonymous acts of kindness, and most of all... love, compassion, and understanding. Those most keenly familiar with pain, poverty, and/or the threat of serious illness/injury/disability/mental illness or deficiency are the very ones who consistently endeavor with every fiber of their being to lessen that of their fellow man.

So of the ' Bah, Humbuggers ', I'd ask you to do this:

Compile a detailed, written list identifying all the reasons why you deem the Holidays to be thus ~ and your thinking behind that reasoning. Be nakedly honest and brutally frank with yourself as you do so, and be thorough in including every reason you can think of. Then, addressing each reason you've listed one by one, record generic or actual known instances of why, though this particular complaint applies to and seems highly detrimental to you... it would pale in comparison to the circumstances others are facing daily, yet still celebrate and find joy as best they can in the Holiday Season and all year long. For example: One reason I hate Christmas/the Holidays is: "I'm depressed and have no family/loved ones to celebrate the Holidays with". Under that reason, you might write something like,"I know of people who've lost love ones to war, cruel diseases, accidents... even homicide... who never complain, and harness and redirect their grief to achieve marvellous ahievements/goals/causes/miracles. I know of adults and/or children who are horrendously mentally and/or physically challenged or injured ~ who are soldiering on and setting shining examples of courage, hope, and faith. I know or have heard of people who have endured unspeakable abuse/crimes/neglect/abandonment... yet triumphed over all, refusing to surrender power over their lives to their victimizers/enemies/persecutors. I know of people struggling every day to pay just for basic shelter, food, and warmth ~ and who, despite it all, personify all the most shining concepts the Holidays celebrate... generousity, unwavering warmth and strength of spirit, kindness, compassion, concern, genuine empathy, and love."

Finally, again under the category of each reason, record what options/countermeasures are ~ or could be ~ at your disposal for utilization in counterbalancing a particular reason you originally listed. An abbreviated example: " I am depressed and alone --> there are people in hospitals (VA or civilian}, nursing homes, rehab/recovery centers, orphanages, etc., who are desperately (perhaps even terminally) ill, disabled, mentally afflicted, impoverished, and/or aged ~ and who are not only depressed and often abandoned or alone ~ but must also be terribly afraid, given what they are facing. Yet among their numbers are countless souls who sincerely and faithfully regard the Holiday Season as a time of miracles, faith, hope, and redemption, despite the terrible hands life has dealt them --> What if I were to begin spending time with them, opening my heart to them, earnestly listening to them, genuinely interacting and establishing lasting friendships with them, and perhaps even "adopting" them as "family members" such as grandparents/aunts/uncles/mothers/fathers/children/etc?. What if I were to become their "Secret Santa" at the Holidays and all year 'round, making wishes come true, even if it is via Dollar Store or Salvation Army/St. Vincent De Paul-type items or treats/snacks because that's all I can afford? What if I were to visit those among them who long for tactile stimulation and unconditional love with a pet companion for them to hold and stroke and connect with? What if I were to share and mentor them in activities I happen to be gifted with talents for, like painting, sewing, knitting/crochetting, caring for plants/gardening, reading aloud, writing and story-telling, etc.?

Yes, sometimes the adage (you should pardon it's crassness) "Life's a big feces sandwich, and every day they make you take another bite does endeavor to apply in every way it can to each and every one of us. But we can also beat it back every time by refusing to chew, relish, and swallow... and making absolutely certain that the greatest contributor within the collective "they" in question is not, in fact, we, ourselves. Just as water seeks stable, foundational states of equilibrium, so too, does the human spirit. But we each must consciously facilitate that process... find detours and alternative, less daunting, yet truly restorative paths through and/or around the storms... and sojourn with deliberacy and unshakeable determination toward the warmth, comfort, and serenity to be found on the other side of even the darkest clouds. For every hurt, there is healing. For every sadness, there are many sources of neutralizing joys. For every dark and empty hole in our being, there are restorative means of climbing out and filling them to the brim. For every problem and plaguing question, there are solutions and answers. All must be sought out, though... and some will be far more elusive and challenging in the quest. But not a single one of them is beyond our grasp... if we'll simply be honest with ourselves, 'walk in the other guy's shoes', employ our God-given objectivity, creativity, personal fortitude, ingenuity, talents, and capacity for giving and receiving love... and release our clenched fists long enough to receive these many blessings in offered, open, and extended hearts, minds, spirits, and hands.

Merry Christmas, Mr. Scrooge. Please pass the figgy pudding and mulled wine... and may God bless us, every one.