Santa is real, if you believe

It's that festive time of year again, when families get together to decorate a Douglas fir with bright lights and tinsel, feast on a traditional meal and most of all; wait with great anticipation for that fat, jolly old man, dressed in a red suit and hat, to arrive at their house and deliver presents. It's Christmas time!

People all over the World call him by different names: St. Nick, Pere Noel, Shengdan Laoren, Father Christmas, or simply Santa Clause.

But who is Santa Clause, really? How can he live all these thousands of years? Is he immortal? Is he even real? What about those eight tiny flying reindeer and being able to squeeze that wide girth of a body down those skinny chimneys with his sack full of toys? How can Santa visit every house on Earth, giving gifts to the nice girls and boys and lumps of coal to those who've been naughty throughout the year - all in one night!

Ever ask yourself these questions? Or worse, been asked by a five year old child and have to explain this phenomenon?

Many cultures; such as China, England, France, Germany and the U.S.A., stake claims to their own origins of Santa Clause dating back thousands of years, existing in various incarnations.

Through the ages, the Santa persona grew throughout these countries by word-of-mouth, stories being passed from generation to generation, through poems and books, and now in theatrical movies.

One classic Christmas story made into a movie is "The Polar Express", based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg. In it, those who believe in Santa can hear the chime of a sleigh bell and experience the joy and wonder that Christmas brings; thus, realizing the true meaning of Christmas.

Those who can no longer hear the ringing of the bell are those who no longer believe in Santa; which is to say, the spirit of Santa. They trudge through the season viewing it as just another capitalistic holiday.

There are many of us, mostly adults, who no longer hear those chimes. They no longer believe. The question that begs to be answered, is why? Did your parents sit you down one Christmas season and tell you there was no such thing as Santa, breaking your heart, breaking your spirit? Did a classmate or bully at school tease you into compliance?

Is little five year old Tommy's heart broken now that you've told him that there is no Santa? Just because your parents told you and you continue to hold onto that belief? At this stage in Tommy’s life, he'll believe anything you tell him, right? You wouldn't lie to him, would you? Confused, he starts to question other things you've told him. What about God? You said God existed, were you lying about that too? How does Tommy know that God is real? How does he know that Santa is not?

So what do you tell a child when they ask if there really is a Santa?

Tell them when they're old enough to understand, that Santa is real . . . in Spirit. He's not of flesh and bones like you or I; but a force, energy or a feeling of love. Santa is the spirit of kindness, thoughtfulness and compassion. A symbol that says that giving is superior to receiving. He's not a physical being like you or me, but the spirit of love that resides in your heart. He exists in your emotions and thoughts and feelings, a part of your consciousness. This is the Christmas Spirit. This is Santa.

Let’s compare personifications. How about Evil, more commonly known as Satan? Does he really run around in a little red suit carrying a pitch fork, making people around the World do bad things? No. He's an allegory, a metaphor. He too is a spirit, an energy that exists within each one of us. And given our free-will, you can choose whether to succumb to Satan and behave badly, or not. The same holds true for the Santa spirit.

That energy or spirit fills you up on Christmas.

Ask yourself: What happens when you give your child or a close friend a present? What happens inside you when you give money or a present to some stranger in need? Or when you volunteer your time or food to a food-bank? What do you receive in return? Joy, fulfillment, love! You are filled with that Santa spirit. If you believe!

You’ve become Santa, haven't you?

Happy Christmas and God bless us all!

Copyright 2007 by Russell Waterman

All Rights Reserved