Written for my daughter in 2006

Believing in Belief

Emma, there will come a day when you will question the existence of Santa Claus.  It is a day we have all had to come to terms with.  Someone, a friend or a teacher or a family member will inadvertently let slip that there is no Santa.  When this happens you will already have begun to have niggling doubts.  You will have heard snippets of conversation and the question of how Santa can be in so many malls will have already been settled in your mind using your common sense and logic.  Of course we all know that those people in the malls are really Santa’s helpers.  And whatever you tell them is instantly transmitted to the North Pole so that Santa has some idea of what you would like for Christmas.

But that does not address what you will do on the day that you first begin to question the existence of Santa.  You see, it is not just about Santa, it is about believing.  It is about accepting that not all things can be explained using science or logic or common sense.  This will be the time when you face a choice; perhaps the most important choice you will ever have to make in your life.  But more on that later.

We live in a world that, for the most part, has forgotten how to believe.  Science has managed to take the mystery out of just about everything.  We know how the heart works; it is a muscle that pumps blood to the rest of our body.  Isn’t it funny how science has been unable to explain why our heart hurts when we are sad, or when we lose a loved one?   And where is the scientific explanation for why our heart sings when we are happy, or when we see something beautiful?  Unfortunately many people don’t believe in the spirit of the heart and are not stirred to either sadness or joy; they deny their emotions and in their hearts is something they cannot describe.  You and I would call that something loneliness.

Christmas, in case you have forgotten, is when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the son of God.  It is the high holiday of Christendom.  For those who are Christians it is the most holy time of year.  For those who are not Christians, it may not mean much.  For instance in India Christmas, for the most part, goes unnoticed; much the same way their high holidays go unnoticed inCanada.  Like us, they have their beliefs and in their beliefs is a version of Santa, perhaps unrecognizable to us, but still a symbol in which they place their hopes and dreams.

This brings us to who is Santa?  The real St Nicholas was born in the third century.  He was raised by wealthy parents as a Christian and when they died he listened to the teachings of Jesus and gave his inheritance to the poor and disabled.  He became a Bishop and was famous for his love of children and his generosity.  His life was not always easy and at one point the Romans put him in jail because of his beliefs.  When he died a relic called manna formed on his grave and this manna was reported to have the power to heal the sick.

Over the years the legend of St. Nicholas or Santa Claus has grown.  He is reported to have calmed the seas for sailors who prayed to him for calm during storms.  He has become the patron saint of all those in need or in trouble.  St. Nicholas is buried in Demra,Turkey at the St. Nicholas Church.  His spirit still provides comfort to people all over the world and it is his spirit of generosity and giving; the teachings of Jesus, that we celebrate at Christmas.

So you now know that Santa really lived and was a good person, but that still does not address the question at hand.  Is there a Santa?  This is something you need to decide for yourself.  You will have to choose whether or not you believe in Santa, this choice will be one of the most important decisions you will ever make, a decision that will shape who you become and how you will live your life.

For many years I did not believe in Santa Claus.  I stopped believing and Christmas was, for me, a time of stress and loneliness.  I was unable to find the joy of the season and I saw Christmas as a time of obligation and not celebration.  I was not a happy person and the spirit in my heart was heavy.  Fortunately family and friends did not stop believing, in Santa or in me.  As the years went past their generosity of spirit and their love gave me back my belief in Santa.  You see that is the wonderful thing about the spirit of Christmas.  If you truly believe in Santa then it matters not what others believe and eventually the spirit you carry in your heart will infuse those around you and they will find they cannot ignore the spirit of Christmas.

When you look at it, Santa is really the spirit of our hearts reaching out to each other with love and caring.  When you ask me or mommy if we believe in Santa Claus we look into our hearts and say without hesitation; of course we believe in Santa Claus.

So when you come to that inevitable day.  The day when you need to choose whether or not you believe in Santa ignore science and logic and common sense.  Listen to what is in your heart before you make up your mind.  It is what is in your heart, not your head that counts.  For within our hearts is the capacity to change the world.  Those who believe in belief do great things.  They write the words that make us laugh and cry.  They bring peace to our world and feed the hungry and heal the sick.  They protect our humanity and make our world and our lives a better place.  Isn’t it amazing what believing in Santa can mean?  So Merry Christmas Emma and I know you will make the right choice because you have great generosity and spirit in your heart.

Love Always, Daddy.

Christmas 2006