WHAT MONEY CAN'T BUY

Commercialism is everywhere, especially at Christmas........ even in a time of recession, so it was lovely to read this quote in my inbox this morning.

"It's good to have money and the things that money can buy, but it's good too, to check up once in a while and make sure you haven't lost the things money can't buy". (George Lorimer)

It can be all too easy to get caught up in the materialism of today's society. The need to have stuff, more stuff and to have it now has probably played a big part in getting the developed world where it is now economically. Maybe in a time when many of us have a little less, we'll be better placed to appreciate the fabulous wealth around us that money can't buy.

As a very young child I went to see the premiere of the original version of the film of "A Christmas Carol". The actor who played Scrooge was sitting in front of us. At the part where Scrooge touches the burning hot wall of hell..... and jumps, I jumped too - almost out of my little skin! I can remember it vividly. Anyway, I digress......

In the story, Charles Dickens had Scrooge see the error of his ways after he is visited during sleep by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. He awakens as a changed man. On realising that he has not missed Christmas Day he does everything he can to make up for all his past cruelty by giving to others. He is forever changed by the experience and realises that hoarding money is not the route to happiness. He learns to appreciate the wonder of the world around him and experiences the joy of giving.

As a society we are unlikely to have such a ghostly visitation en masse this Christmas season, but perhaps somehow the economic downturn might make us appreciate all that we do have to be grateful for. So as you spend time with your family and friends this festive season, take time to remember all that is good in your life. We all have much to be grateful for, sometimes we just need to stop....look, listen and feel...... to notice the wonder that has been there all along. Feeling closer to your God or to the Universe on a deeply spiritual level.

Wishing you all a wonderful, peaceful, heart-warming Christmas.