They are What They are

 “A Christmas Carol,” by Charles Dickens, is something we cannot escape this time of year. There are various film adaptions of it, broadcast on television. Theatre troupes have it as part of their playbill. The characters and the sentiments of its story are embedded in our culture: Tiny Tim, Bob Cratchit, the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future and, of course, our favorite miser, Ebenezer Scrooge.

We’re familiar with the tale. In short, a stingy, mean old man has an equally horrible attitude toward the holiday season. There is no “Christmas Spirit” to be found in the guy. He seems quite content in making people miserable; he seems comfortable in his own misery as well.

But things aren’t that simple. Even this miser has a complicated backstory, which we discover as Scrooge has an ethereal life review/intervention, via three Apparitions, the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future.

Indeed, upon being visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past, we encounter this exchange, as Ebenezer is disturbed by what he remembers…

 “After reliving his past and seeing his kindly former mentor Fezziwig, Scrooge is overwhelmed. He tells the Ghost:

‘Spirit!’ said Scrooge in a broken voice, ‘remove me from this place.’
‘I told you these were shadows of the things that have been,’ said the Ghost. ‘That they are what they are, do not blame me!’

It is what it is.

This is a common statement in our vernacular now. It can be viewed as a declaration of acceptance, even resignation. It addresses the immovable things out of our control, like the reality of the past circumstances. We cannot change those things.

Does that promote despair or hope? It can work either way, really.

“‘…They are what they are…’”

It is what it is.

This time of year, indeed, emphasizes reflection, renewal and the prospect of changing for the better. After all, New Year’s resolutions. And changing our lives for the better is an admirable goal.

But I think, equally as important, is the revelation that we need “to accept the things we cannot change,” as the Serenity Prayer encourages us to do. It would be great if we could eradicate all of our embarrassing and shameful mistakes and choices. We cannot.

Instead, we are poised to carry on our lives, right here, right now, as is.

The past can be a lesson, a teacher, if we so choose it to be.

The choice is ours.

Copyright © 2018 by Sheryle Cruse