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The image of Marley being weighed down by chains has stayed with me. After his death he becomes aware of chains that "held in their links the emblems of his life: not gifts, not people, not pleasant memories, but contracts and cash boxes and locks and keys. These were the ONLY things that had mattered to him....that heft now burdened him. Each ounce of gain that had at one time brought him pleasure was now a pound of pain" (page 92) This graphic image has made me consider--what chains bind me and prevent my progress? Even more importantly, what really matters to me? I feel so blessed to know there is hope and redemption for each one of us, no matter what our failings may be!
Later in the story, when the weight of Ebeneezer's chains are added to Marley's burdens...he can't bear the weight and calls out for help. Each of us needs to render help to others. Each of us needs to reach out for help from above. No man is an island. Finally, by the end of Ebeneezer's life, both men are both free of the chains that bind them. I love Bennett's depiction of the next life where we can learn and grow and serve and make a difference, where we find love and acceptance and redemption. I imagine these two men as jolly companions in the heavens, helping other sorry, selfish souls find their way to enlightenment!
We had the fortunate experience to visit with the author when our book group met to discuss this novel. My husband worked for Bill at a technology company in the early 1990s. Based on that connection, I reached out to Bill and asked if he would be willing to join us for our meeting. Modern technology is a miracle. We video conferenced, Bill in Utah and our group in Ohio. What a wonderful time we shared together! He shared his advice for someone who might want to write and be published: practice writing, write a lot, go to writer's conferences, read a lot, and publish on Kindle. He shared his love of writing and his desire to make the world a better place. He indicated he wants to leave something behind to help people think about life and what they can do to help others. We asked him what books he likes to read and he talked about how he enjoys uplifting literature, biographies, science fiction and he mentioned several books by name: The Alchemist, Man's Search for Meaning, and Les Miserables.