Soon after I became a pastor my sister called and told me a story.
Her pastor, at a Christmas service filled with children, began his message with the point that unlike Santa, who is not real—the child in the manger is!
There was an audible gasp. Children cried out, “Santa, not real?” The pastor’s error now obvious to him led to a further mistake, he then softly said to himself “Darn it” (well perhaps not “darn”). The audio system was especially good that night and so his soft self-condemnation was amplified throughout the church, and the now second gasp, from both adult and child, was louder than the first.
My sister suggested, that as a new preacher, I avoid such mistakes.
Each Christmas we engage in the myth of Santa, the North Pole, Elves, Sleighs and Flying Reindeer. It is fun. It is a welcome change in the calendar. A short seasonal break where we immerse ourselves in cheer and goodwill. Unfortunately, the myth doesn’t hold. At some age children begin to ask those pesky questions as to whether Santa is real. Ultimately there is the fateful year they come face to face with reality.
Yet the myth has given birth to something more, call it magical. For Christmas is truly a remarkable time of year when human beings are more generous. When they actually do take time off from the hustle and bustle of work. Entire companies will close for weeks to allow employees time with their families. Perspective husbands pop the question to the love of their lives. Families who don’t speak often during the year come together. We’ve captured this magic in song and theater. It is all quite delightful.
We love Christmas. We anticipate it so much so, that each year there is the common observation that stores and shops seem to move up the date when they are advertising for Christmas. Moving up cheer and goodwill is not a bad thing, but no matter how early we start, it does not seem to last.
As soon as Christmas Day is over those trees which were trimmed with such care are down. The advertisers are moving us on to the New Year. Efficient executives are emailing people to get a jump on work.
Can’t we hold on to it?
I believe the answer is yes, we can.
The Church, long ago, began celebrating the birth of Jesus on Christmas. The Church placed this commemoration of this universe altering event amid the darkest days of winter. There are plenty of places you and I can google to find out if Jesus was born on December 25. There are plenty of places you and I can google to find out about how a Bishop, named Nicholas, was the precursor to our Santa. There are plenty of places you and I can fill our minds with information about the Church and Christmas.
But there is something MORE. We are invited not to fill our minds, but to fill our hearts. We are invited each year to plant anew, deeply in our hearts, that God has not left us all on our own.
Christmas, the birth of God to a humble mother and father, shouts to us that God is for-us and God is with-us. In the midst of the darkness, the Light of the World has come among us.
I am not saying we need to ditch Santa. I am not suggesting we drop the magical season. Perhaps the Peanuts gang captured it best. Can I suggest, even assert, that God is offering us MORE. God is offering himself to us in the person of Jesus. Might this Christmas we all receive Him.