The haunted mansion

(picture taken from http://experimentaltheology.blogspot.com/2009/11/marleys-ghost-mankind-was-my-business.html)

I took a ginger step back into the haunting memories of the past once again, knowing I might come out frightened, shaking but perhaps trembling with excitement at my new-found courage. Its like the ghosts of Christmas, coming back to remind of the past, the present and a future to come.

Bittersweet, with a tinge of regret, and still a bottle full of skeptism and pride but with the hope that all is not lost, and that there is always time to realise and recognise and repent. That is the spirit of Christmas, of the grace of his love, of giving.

The miser scrooge, who hardened his heart and his shell in a bid to protect himself. Becoming cut away from the pains and the simple joys of the common man. Scoffing at the silly antics the poor, believing in himself that a bag full of gold meant he was rich when in truth, he was the poorest of all.

I don't want to be Mr Scrooge.

And so, taking that jog through the haunted mansion was my first step to opening up the chocked vessels of my hardened thoughts and heart. Its a small step, but at least I took it.

The Christmas cheer isn't about commercial exploits, or about delicious-creamy-aromatic toffee nut latte(ok it does make me look forward to Christmas even more!) Its about love, about the joy of giving, about the giving of his one and only beloved son for us so that we may have time, time to realise, to recognise and to repent. One Christmas will pass, but another will come along.

How many Christmas's do we have till we learn to gather around the fire in the freezing cold of the world, and give up the glove on our hands to the brother next to us in love and in gratitude to the one who gave us life?

I love Christmas.
And I'm learning to love the haunted mansion... the past, the present and the future.

I'm so going to rewatch "The Christmas Carol" this christmas. Its not the usual feel good hee-hee-ha-ha movie, but its a good movie that you'll thank the blinking stars you got to watch. :)




As little children we'd dream of Christmas morn
And all the gifts and toys we knew we’d find
But we never realized a baby born one blessed night
Gave us the greatest gift of our lives

We are the reason that He gave His life
We were the reason that He suffered and died
To a world that was lost He gave all He could give
To show us the reason to live

As the years went by we learned more of our gifts
The giving of ourselves and what that means
On a dark and cloudy day a man hung crying in the rain
Because of love
Because of love

*Chorus

I finally found the reason for living
It’s in giving every part of my heart to Him (every part to Him)
And all that I do every word that I say (you know I’ll be saying)
I will give all my life just for Him, just for Him (every thing for Him)

We are the reason that He gave His life
We are the reason that He suffered and died
To a world that was lost He gave all He could give (all that he could give all)
To show us the reason to live