Blog 2595 – 12.06.2022

Believe In The Magic Of Christmas

I watched again last evening the original 1947 Miracle On 34th Street and was reminded of the age old debate between faith and reason or otherwise put reality and imagination. I believe we have two sides of our brain because it does not have to be either or but can indeed be both. We can try to reason out a problem or situation or we can use the more subtle intuitive side of our brain, our imagination, to come to a conclusion equally reliable.

There is a line in the Ten Intentions for a Better World that comes to mind often “I discard any beliefs that are no longer serving me.” Albert Einstein, who many believe had one of the best minds of the twentieth century is purported to have defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Our rational mind may say the shortest distance between two points is a straight line but our intuitive brain says, “Maybe so, but what is the fun in that.”

I have for many years enjoyed putting on my Santa suit and doing my best to remind children and adults of the magic of Christmas. Some Christians have a problem with Santa Claus, Kris Kringle, or Father Christmas as the jolly old elf is called. I never have because to me he always seemed one of the best things about Christmas. As cowboy Gene Autry sang in his second most popular Christmas song, Here Comes Santa Claus (Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer being his best seller) “Santa Claus knows we’re all God’s children and that makes everything right. So fill your hearts with Christmas cheer ‘cause Santa Claus comes tonight.”

The problem I have with most all religious groups, especially Christians, is that they seem to think God has a chosen people – them and them alone.

The Universe, my favorite name for my higher power, is no respecter of persons, meaning He/She does not pick or play favorites. There is no coal in this Santa’s sack nor any list real or imagined differentiating some Naughty and some Nice. I submit to you that naughty can sometimes be quite nice and the reverse as well.

The point is that Santa reminds us to see the good in everyone even ourselves and that makes Christmas a pretty magical time of year.

My niece Michelle texted me a picture last week of her and her brother taken I believe the first Christmas after I met them with an old friend who dropped by to wish them both a Merry Christmas.

This year I expect, along with Santa’s all around the world, that I will be suiting up and practicing my “Ho, Ho, Ho, Merry Christmas” and doing my small part to perpetuate a myth that as far as I know only adds to the joy and magic of the season.

Your friend and fellow traveler,

David White

Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) (1947 Version)