Blog 192 – 12.24.15

There is a new Seth Rogen/James Franco buddy movie out this season. Many of my “rules based” friends might not enjoy their kind of “out there” humor but I was amazed that even with all the outlandish and envelop pushing gags this movie has the most tender message about what real family is. I for one enjoy movies that open up my mind to other points of view and make fun of our pretentiousness. The movie is called The Night Before if you care to see it. But be cautioned it is not for the faint of heart or something you will be quoting in Sunday School.

With that aside out of the way I wanted to share with you some of my most vivid recollections of The Night Before Christmas. As a child my mother always made Christmas a big deal at our house. Till I was a teen and Dad finally made it to the top ten concrete truck drivers at his company and was guaranteed a living wage in the winter months, mom always worked in a dime store during the Christmas season to make money to provide Christmas for me and my brother. We always had a lovely tree with presents and always big surprises from Santa by the tree. My mama believed in Santa Claus and worked hard to make sure we did too. In a real way she was one of Santa’s helpers. Every time I put on the suit I remember to honor my mother and all Santa’s true believers and to be on my best behavior. Oh, and I try to remember to brush my teeth, pop a mint, and wear deodorant and cologne. I met a bad breathed Santa on a city bus as a boy and it left a bad impression much like the drunken Santa in the movie 34th Street might have had not the real Santa showed up.

Yes, Virginia, there really is a Santa Claus. And he lives in all our hearts even the “Bah Humbug Bunch.” Santa is just another face of God/the Universe giving out love, joy, and gifts to all the children of the world, big and small.

I saw on Social Media yesterday that someone is trying to teach Muslims that Allah and God are the same. That is big task to say the least. Everybody seems to think their God is like Winnie the Pooh’s Tigger – “The Only One.” I received a lovely card a few years back from a beloved friend. The cover of the card looked like a carved wooden plaque and read, “In Love we each believe we are The Lucky One.” I mounted that card on a canvas print I have with a quote from Proverbs: “Be still and know that I Am God.” There is but One God and we collectively and individually are He/She, Him/Her. And I believe as God wears many faces that often some of those faces don a beard and red suit and shout the night before Christmas: “Merry Christmas To All And To All A Good Night.” Even as we are told that on that first Christmas Eve the Angels sang, “Peace On Earth Good Will To Mankind.”

Your friend and fellow traveler,
David White