By Kenneth Kowald
During what many people call the “Season of Light,” this time of holidays and holy days, I recall past seasons. I think many people do that as we come to a new year.
For many years, as readers of this column may recall, one of my Season of Light activities was to walk up Fifth Avenue and admire the wonderful holiday displays in the store windows. I have not done that for a few years, but I recall those walks with great pleasure.
The displays of light in businesses and homes in Queens this time of year does much to turn away the darkness, which seems to come far too early.
Another thing I did — and may do again this year, if time permits — is reread “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens.
Most people know the story, having read it or seen a TV or film version. The 1951 film with Alastair Sim as Ebenezer Scrooge is the most truthful to its source and worth seeing. Yes, there is joy at the end of a long night of ghostly visitors, but one scene, the end of the visit of the jolly Ghost of Christmas Present, has stayed with me since I first read the book.
The sumptuously-clothed spirit’s robe has fallen apart slightly and there, clinging to the spirit’s legs are two starving children. The boy is Ignorance, the girl is Want. Beware them both, says the spirit, but beware most the boy.
Scrooge asks if there is any help for them and the spirit throws back his own words at Scrooge: “Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?”
Yes, Dickens told marvelous stories with great characters, but he also told the truth about awful conditions in his own time.
Consider Mrs. Jellyby, the “telescopic philanthropist” in “Bleak House,” which many — including me— believe to be the greatest masterpiece in the Dickens canon. This character cares much for the poor and discarded thousands of miles from London and she tries to help them. But she completely disregards those in need right under her nose. She refuses to see or think about them.
One of my dearest friends is the Rev. Peter Amadeus Fiore, scholar in residence at Siena College. In late September, Siena celebrated the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi and the president sent a letter to the Siena community, which Peter sent to me. Whatever your religious attachments — or not — I think these words the Rev. Kevin J. Mullen wrote are something for all of us to consider in this Season of Light:
“… may we recommit ourselves to serve God in the most vulnerable of people; to advance peace in the most contentious of circumstances; to promote courtesy and civil discourse in the most heated of debates; to restore God’s good creation in the most ravaged of environments; and to demonstrate our deeds that we do, indeed, believe we are brothers and sisters to one another.”
Dickens showed us a “new” Scrooge and a “telescopic philanthropist” and so many others who inhabit our world. Which we choose to emulate at all times says much about our society and our country.
During these days, it might be a good idea to try to find some time to sit quietly and think about the world around us, about peace; about those in need of help in mind, body and spirit; of how we, as a nation, account for the good fortune we have; of how each of us can share what we have with so many others, especially those right here in Queens — those who are out of work, lack proper shelter, barely manage to eat properly, to all in trouble in body and spirit.
Let us give some thought to “the least of these.”
And, as Mullen put it, let us, each in our own way, promote courtesy and civil discourse in the most heated of debates. It is a consummation greatly to be wished.
Happy holidays and holy days to all, however — or not — you observe them in this Season of Light.
Read my blog No Holds Barred at timesledger.com.
