My two favorite Christmas eve allegories are Dickens, “A Christmas Carol” and  Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life”. In both stories, Scrooge and George Bailey have spiritual experiences. Scrooge gets to see how his life will turn out if he doesn’t change his ways. George gets to witness what life would have been like had he never been born.  In both stories, I’m reminded of the interconnected-ness of everything, and that no matter what, we all make a difference in each other’s lives.  From where I sit today, it’s hard to see how my cancer is going to turn out to be a positive thing  – and yet, through all the fear, I still believe, when all is said and done, it will be. So, tonight ring a bell for an angel to get its wings, eat some figgy pudding and enjoy the love of all of those around you.  It all matters.