"Looking for Fezziwig’s"

"Looking for Fezziwig’s"

Fezziwig, old Fezziwig was the good hearted shop keeper that young Ebenezer Scrooge was apprenticed to in the Charles Dickens classic "A Christmas Carol".

In that story the character Fezziwig kept Christmas with a gleeful merry making that he, and his family shared with their employees, and indeed the world.

Christmas eve at Fezziwig‘s shop was a fine display of bright decorations, music, dancing, games, and boisterous laughter.
Oh, but the food!
Long tables were weighted down with all manner of tasty morsels. There were pies, cakes, hot breads, roasts, and cider!
Most of all, most wonderful of all is what Fezziwig gave of his soul. Loving kindness, warm fellowship, and an intuitive understanding of the true meaning of the day.

Christmas Day.

As Charles Dickens says through the character of Scrooge’s nephew Fred.
"Christmas is a time of generosity. A kind, and forgiving day. A day when men, and women from all circumstances open their shut-up hearts to the world."

‘And so it was true of Mr. Fezziwig. Silly, dear old Fezziwig, and his family, and apprentices. They were happy in each other’s company, and rejoiced in the day.

The Fezziwig parable from the story of Scrooges is very special to me. This because it touches upon a need I have. That perhaps a great many have. You see I’ve been searching for Fezziwig's for many years.
I’ve been looking for that humble shop so filled with joy for most of my life. A place of heart, and acceptance I so far I can only dream of.

Since I was very young I’ve always felt outside, far from the hearth, beyond the window, outside of the door, locked out at the gate. Always outside looking in, and hoping to be noticed.

Through these many years I’ve searched for a tribe, a nation, a faith to belong to. To be enfolded into, and kept, and loved, and needed. I longed to be in a place where you could taste the love in every giving, and receiving.

I had hoped I would one day stumble upon such a miracle.
On many a Christmas Eve I wandered the streets of this vast Emerald City. This busy place of towers, lights, and noise. Through the neon canyons I looked for a very particular kind of magic. I have yet to be blessed with it’s discovery, but I do not despair. Because despite it all I still believe. I still have faith.

I Believe in Dreams.
I Believe in Holy Magic.

Most of all I believe in the power of Good. The power of Loving Kindness. Even in a world as dark, and uncaring as this.
So I know,...I Know.

One Christmas Eve yet to come I will walk down an unremarkable street with unseen Angels at my side. I will walk down a narrow snowy street, and at last find a small humble shop. A shop with wide open inviting doors, warm golden lights, music, bright laughter, joyful songs,...and best of all welcoming smiles.

I will have at long last found my Christmas.
Merry Christmas!

(I wrote this many years ago, and read it annually on my radio program. I'm still looking, and I still have Faith.)