I'm not a Scrooge. I'm not a cold-hearted, tight-fisted, greedy man, who despises Christmas. I adore Christmas. All the mystery and wonder and joy and love of Christmas is overwhelmingly beautiful to me. But it has absolutely nothing to do with the man in the red suit.
So I have a question:
Why do we lie to our children?
I've done it. To all three of ours. I've lied my way through Christmas. And when it came time to open presents, I made sure that Santa's reputation remained in tact. He gave them decent presents.
And I'll admit that I love "The Santa Claus," "The Santa Clause 2," and "The Santa Clause 3" movies. "Miracle on 34th Street" still makes me cry. And I never, ever get tired of watching "Elf."
But look at some of the characteristics we ascribe to the Jolly Fellow:
"He sees you when you're sleeping. He knows if you're awake. He knows if you've been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake!"
Santa sees me? I'm not sure I want him watching me as I sleep.
And now there's "The Elf on the Shelf." Honestly, I find him (or her) to be a bit more disturbing. He moves all over the house, but only at night when no one can see him. He is always in view of the children, keeping an eye on them (for Santa, of course). He can't be touched, or he'll lose his "magic." And on Christmas Eve he is "magically" taken back by Santa on his sleigh.I hope I'd be willing to offer hospitality to anyone in need, but I think I'm drawing the line when it comes to the elf.
The mystery, the wonder of Christmas is all wrapped up in Santa and his little elf on the shelf.
Wait!!! That's the mystery??? That's the wonder???
No, no, no!!!
God became a HUMAN BEING. God came HERE. "The Word (Jesus) became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood" (John 1:14, The Message). Why? Because He LOVES US. God sent Jesus, God came to live with us, because He loves us so very much! There is NOTHING more mysterious, nothing more amazing than the fact that God CAME HERE.
God sees you when you're sleeping. God knows if you're awake. He watches over you. He who neither slumbers nor sleeps WATCHES OVER YOU. Fear not. FEAR NOT.
THIS is the mystery. THIS is the wonder. THIS is the joy. THIS is LOVE.
Now, I know there's a much more beautiful history to Santa Claus, or Saint Nicholas, than most of us take the time to discover. Nicholas was born during the third century, of wealthy parents. They died while he was still young, and he used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He became known throughout the region for his generosity to those in need and his love for children, and he had a reputation for secret gift-giving. It's a beautiful life-story, that has morphed into the Santa Clause we know today.
What happens when our children grow up and they realize that much of the mystery of their Christmas was, in fact, a lie? What happens when we tell them, "Well, Santa Clause isn't real, but Jesus is -- that whole 'other' part of the story, that's true." So, we lied, AND, we told the truth?
I realize being anti-Santa is about as counter-cultural as being anti-baseball, or anti-ice cream, or anti-Facebook. I don't want to be "anti" anything. I just don't want to give a fictitious character credit for the love and joy that TRULY is Christmas. God deserves all the credit. And that's the Truth. And THAT Truth is ETERNAL.
EMMANUEL -- God is WITH US!! Jesus moved into the neighborhood and He STAYED in our hearts. Because God loved us so much that He gave His One and Only Son -- not to condemn us, but to SAVE us.
