Continuing with my "Advent: Antidote for Xmas" theme, I'd like to use my Spirit Spot this month to focus on some of the Christmas stories of pop culture that get hoisted upon us during Advent. Is there a Christian message in these secular accounts?

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Dickens' original book proved to be iconic, but most people are familiar with the story because of a movie version. Ebeneezer Scrooge has been portrayed by George C. Scott, Kelsey Grammer, Patrick Stewart, Bill Murray (!), and the great Alastair Sim. But my favorite Scrooge has always been Mr. Magoo. I guess it's a Boomer thing.

The story is so well known that there is no need for me to rehash it. What I love about A Christmas Carol is the theme of conversion. The ghost visitations help Scrooge to realize that his painful past has made him an irritable grouch. He has only to change his heart and let go of past regrets to build a more meaningful life for himself and for the others around him, especially at Christmastime.

Conversion, of course, is at the heart of the Christian message, epitomized by Jesus' Parable of the Prodigal Son. St. Paul himself was a persecutor of Christians until an encounter with the Risen Jesus transformed him. We usually associate conversion with the Lenten journey, but Dickens' point of using Christmas as a springboard for conversion is well taken. Anytime is a good time to look into one's soul and see God's goodness at work, even in the dark times. The trick is to take the almost overused trappings of A Christmas Carol and find in it a Christian heart.

Do we find ourselves "Scrooged" at this time of year? Perhaps we need to ask God for a healing of memories, to forgive the hurts of our past so we can truly embrace those in our lives who mean so much to us.

Come to us, Jesus, come to us.
Come to us, Jesus. Jesus, come.

For a world filled with darkness
longs to see your light.
For a world of despair
awaits that hopeful night.

We know not where this journey leads,
we follow just our dreams.
We travel far that we might kneel
before a newborn King.

(Words and music by Steve Angrisano)