There are two stories that are perennial favorites this time of year, Charles Dickens The Christmas Carol and Handel's Messiah.  Tony Reinke compares and contrasts their two different approaches to the meaning of Christmas. Dickens. "For Dickens, Christmas is about getting unshackled from materialism to appreciate all the blessed relationships we’ve been given."  Ultimately, he argues, Dickens end goal is to effect our horizontal gaze.  Moral reform is the ultimate goal. "Remember! — … [Read more...]