Awakened By Ghosts

The holidays are all about self-reflection. The emphasis is on nostalgia, personal growth and meaning. We often ask ourselves, “Where am I? How far have I come? What’s the point and purpose to my life?”

Not surprisingly, we can often be kept awake at night.

When I saw this image, I could relate. 

Again, it’s timely during this holiday season, with the retelling of the literary classic, “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. In many versions of the story, the character, “The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come” resembles this Grim Reaper figure. It certainly adds another sobering layer to things.

What a comforting sentiment to grab ahold of: perhaps, the future is death?

Yikes.

But, let’s be honest, there are many of us out there who think along these lines. Something in our lives has, indeed, perhaps, died. A loved one, a dream, hope. Many of us may look at the future only with dread of Christmas, and any other occasion or circumstance that is considered “Yet to Come.”

Let’s really distill the meaning of the future, again, referring to our little Grim Reaper. Does the concept of “future/ things yet to come” automatically translate as ONLY personal, profound failure because we are in it? Are WE the failure in any context or equation?

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he...”

Proverbs 23:7

Each of us needs to separate our failures from who we are as individuals. Many of us have difficulty doing just that. We cannot differentiate “our who from our do.”

Is the past haunting you with mistakes, regrets or tragic heartaches which continue to torment you into your current life?

What about the future? Are you only intimidated and despairing with a bleak, loveless, joyless round of days to come?

As you reflect, do you see a kind of Grim Reaper coming for you?

We all know we cannot change the past; it is what it is. Therefore, peace can be ours for the asking, for the taking, should we choose to accept it. We can rest; we deserve sleep.

“When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.”

Proverbs 3:24

Part of that rest involves acceptance. We failed. We made horrific mistakes. Perhaps, these failures and mistakes even brought about some kind of death to our lives.

We must forgive ourselves. We are “but dust” (Psalms 103:14). We are imperfect, flawed human beings. And that reality does not bring with it, the mandate to punish us forever. We need to stop being our own oppressor.

Sometimes, the Grim Reaper is ourselves. We’re doing our own haunting. And it need not be that way, when it comes to our future.

Where there is any kind of Grim Reaper, Grace is there, all the more!

“The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more.”

Romans 5:20

Copyright © 2018 by Sheryle Cruse