Many years ago, in 1897, an eight-year old girl called Virginia, wondered whether Santa Claus was real because some of her friends had been saying he was not. She wrote to the editor of The New York Sun and received a reply that you can read in the museum of newspapers.
The same question is being asked today,especially by young children who have been told “the truth” by teachers (!) friends and other well-meaning people who believe in never lying and telling only facts and truth to everyone. Some of these people may be religious, others may be rationalists and some may be extremely factual people who will not even read fiction stories, “because they are lies”.
Do You Believe In Santa?
Do puppies, kittens and baby animals in general melt your heart? What about sunsets, sunrises or rainbows? How about babies learning to walk, a sandy coconut island, or gardens full of flowers or a fresh snowy landscape? Those skies, landscapes or animals are beautiful because we PERCEIVE them that way.
Have you ever experienced serendipity, a helpful coincidence or a lucky break? Maybe you went into an exam only having studied a couple of subjects and found those on the exam paper? Perhaps you found a piece of money exactly when you most needed it? Maybe your car broke down near a garage, rather than out on the freeway or the middle of a traffic jam? Maybe you heard about a new technique or a helpful book, just when you needed it most? Perhaps you found a new recipe just in time for Christmas or someone’s visit or birthday? Most of us are lucky at one time or another, provided we look out for luck and are open to it and not the opposite.
Has anyone ever been unconditionally kind to you? Maybe gave you something you really needed without expecting anything in return? A suit for an interview or funeral perhaps? Maybe your bus fare or taxi fare home when you had no money? A bunch of flowers when you needed to say sorry or even found you a birthday card for your friend when the shops were shut? Maybe a phone call when you just needed to hear a human voice or someone calling to say they missed you? Maybe you have even felt that someone was sending you a message that kept you from harm? When we give unconditionally, very often we also receive unconditional kindness or love.
Can you honestly say that you have NEVER felt or experienced any of these things? Only if you have never felt any of these things can you truly say there is no Santa. Santa is the embodiment of the perception of beauty, luck and unconditional kindness; and whenever you feel or experience any of those things, Santa becomes more real. At Christmas time, we are more open to appreciating this and also to giving to others but it can and should happen at any time of year.
Merry Christmas. And may Santa bring you your heart’s desire.