Originally published in December of 1843, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol released to immediate success and has become a holiday staple ever since. Though many people know the basic plot of this yuletide tale, it’s that same familiarity that often causes a glossing over of the power still present in its message. This year we chose to revisit Dickens’ beloved novella and were surprised to find that a piece of our own story is found in his.

Whether you’re reading the original text or watching Jim Henson’s Muppets reenact the story, you immediately “get” who the character of Ebenezer Scrooge is. He’s cold, greedy, and ruthlessly stingy with PTO. However, over the course of a haunted Christmas Eve night, 3 spirits change all that. They show him the experiences, environments, and people that shaped him, that his decisions have impact, and that he can still change his future. Somehow those spirits of the past, present, and future saw potential and promise in Ebenezer Scrooge when his community and even his own self hadn’t yet.

Though we are not Dickensian specters at The Redemption Project, we do share a similar trait: we see the potential and promise inside people—specifically former felons. We don’t pretend that these individuals haven’t made mistakes in the past, but we do choose to focus on what they need presently in order to help them plot a new and successful course for the future—starting with meaningful employment.

Ultimately, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is the story of a beautiful second chance and although the characters and setting may be different, that’s the story we’re trying to write alongside former felons too.

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Note: This message was originally sent on 12/14/20 to our email list subscribers.
It may be slightly edited and reformatted for use on this website.

A Second Chance for Ebenezer Scrooge...and Former Felons?