Haunted At the Holidays

 

“Boo!” Scare you?

During the holiday season, Charles Dickens returns to the forefront of our thinking, through his classic work, “A Christmas Carol.” Numerous adaptations have been created on film and television over the years. We usually see at least one version at some point during this season. It’s a literary way of checking our life reflection temperature. Where are we? Can we do better? What do we need to change in our lives?

And this hinges largely upon the presence of ghosts. Not just for Halloween any longer. Nope. Indeed, one of the biggest elements of “A Christmas Carol” is the interplay between the miser, Ebenezer Scrooge and the three ghosts, setting up an “intervention” with him, concerning his life choices and mistakes.

 

 

Yes, these three ghosts, representing Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Future, all challenge Scrooge (and us) to examine the state of our unique, individual hearts in our daily lives. Each one of us is ultimately called to be mindful of the past, present and future, not to be overwhelmed and oppressed by any of it, but rather, to become better, more loving, more fully ourselves through revelation of our daily choices and priorities.

Yes, it’s quite a challenge. Most of us fear it and run away from it, in some way, at some point. Regrets, painful mistakes, loss and personal imperfection may make us feel we’re only haunted and doomed to fail. It’s especially amplified and lonely this time of year, when self-reflection shows us things we don’t want to see.

So, which ghost haunts you the most these days: Past, Present or Future? Is the past haunting you with either glory days no longer visibly felt or tragic heartaches which continue to haunt you into your current life? Is your ghost of the present taunting you with the perception-as-reality picture of discontentment, disappointment and failed potential? And how about that ghost of the future? Is it intimidating you with a bleak, impossible and/or loveless, joyless round of days to come? And now, to top it all off, add your recovery process, with all of its setbacks, failures and challenges. How haunted are you now?

Are you crying, “Bah Humbug?” How scary is your ghost story?  

It’s not hopeless for you. These aren’t the only “spirits” at work. Wherever you are- in life, in issues, in pain, in recovery- God is a Spirit hovering over you right now. We need to go to Him, then, with our truth regarding our past, our present and our future.

“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.”

John 4:24

Like Ebenezer Scrooge, we need to say “yes” to what God’s Spirit has to teach each of us. God knows all about us, about our current situations, every bit of our past, present and future circumstances:

“Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
 even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.”

Psalm 139: 7-10

We all live imperfect lives, filled with imperfect choices. God knows this and loves us the entire time. Look at this season, not as a time to be condemned or haunted by ghosts, but rather, like Scrooge, let this be a time of renewal, hope and reconciliation. The past, present and future, in God’s Hands, can be used, indeed, to bless and prosper you.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11

And remember the answer to the question, “What’s it all about?” Answer: Jesus. He’s the antidote to your tormenting ghosts. Unlike the finger pointing of our failed choices, surfacing in these apparitions of past, present or future, Jesus has come to give “life more abundantly” (John 10:10) to you.

Jesus is the reason for the season. We’ve all heard that expression. Most of us have seen numerous nativity displays of Baby Jesus in the manger. And even “A Charlie Brown Christmas” has the character of Linus reciting scripture (Luke 2:8-14), while stating, “that’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”

It can be hard to remember that good news, however as we deal with our ghosts. When we’re challenged by emotional, familial or addiction-related stress just to name a few options, complicated by our recovery challenges, it’s difficult to keep that Jesus reason as the center of the whole thing. Maybe we even think we’ll get around to truly celebrating Him when this or that issue in our lives is better or when we’re perfectly recovered. We can find ourselves waiting a lon-n-n-ng time, can’t we? Perfect recovery? There doesn’t seem to be such a thing with an imperfect human being, like you and I, at the helm. Recovery never promised it would be pain-free, neat, tidy or ghost free. It’s imperfect day by day, step by step.

But isn’t that the best time, the best reason for Jesus? When we’re less than perfect, less than pulled together, less than healthy or serene? Isn’t an imperfect day the best time to reach for Someone Who truly gets it- and us? After all…

“On hearing this, Jesus said, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.’”

Matthew 9:12

Further adding, in fact, “…I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’"

Mark 2:17

Are you haunted by your ghosts? What if, during your haunting, there was help reaching for you?

“For while the Law was given through Moses, grace (unearned, undeserved favor and spiritual blessing) and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

John 1: 17

 Could it, indeed, be God calling you to a better, condemnation-free life? It is possible. It’s not based on your strength; it’s based on His love and grace.

“But He said to me, ‘My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness.’ Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest upon me!

2 Corinthians 12: 9

You’re not hopelessly haunted by ghosts. You’re loved by a real God, Who has sent Jesus to be a part of your recovery process. Please remember that in your life. You are never alone!

“…and they will call him Immanuel” (which means ‘God with us’). “

Matthew 1:23

Next time you feel haunted, talk to God. You don’t need make it complicated; just share your heart and your issues. Perhaps this prayer can help you get started:

“Father, I come to You, in the Name of Jesus. I ask You to help me with everything that haunts me about my life and choices. You know I have regrets and pain. But I come to You now, asking for Your Intervention in my life, practically, relevantly and daily. Thank You for loving and helping me constantly. This time of year, help me to live a new start with you, infused into my life. Show me what the Christmas season means for me. Thank You. Amen.”

God bless your holiday season!

Copyright © 2014 by Sheryle Cruse