Christmas time seems to be difficult this year. Maybe I am just having a hard time and projecting, but other than the houses I see that have their coloured lights on, I haven’t noticed much cheer: no simple little gifts or cards, not even treats! But I am fortunate, because the people who I am closest to might feel pressures, but don’t let stressors envelop them: we roll with the punches.
I have my suspicions that the reason for this feeling of complacency less than two weeks before Christmas, is because we are all finally feeling the crunch of the global economic crash of 2008. It has taken a few years, but now our debts have caught up with us.
In an atheistic world, we see Santa Claus as an over-indulgent man who brings gifts, and this staple of Christmas has led to a lot of consumerism that we simply cannot afford anymore, or more accurately, pretend to be able to afford.
"Santa" is not a secular fictitious man, though. St. Nicholas existed in the first half of the fourth century, so there is a lot of speculation on his life and accomplishments now, and how he became the harbinger of presents, but my favourite folklore is that he rescued and protected children who were being mistreated.
So it makes sense to me that Santa is about bringing children toys and goodies, and that we take this time out of the year to be more conscious of those who need help buying things such as treats and food.
But because we feel the need to be politically correct, and because the atheists have, in my opinion, bullied all of faith whether strong or weak, we really do not want to recognize Santa for who is really is: a man named Nicholas who hailed from what is now Turkey, had a following as early on as he walked on earth, and is now recognized as a saint in the Catholic church, adored for his theological and humanitarian efforts, and venerated as a soul who will appeal on our behalf for relief in this world as we struggle.
Christmas is supposed to be magical, so why not for less than a month in a year, at least try to believe in miracles, because if we did, maybe we could focus on what Christmas really is: the preparation and the birth of Jesus the Christ.
To accept Santa as a secular being, and not as the miracle worker that he became immortal for, is to deny what this holiday (holy-day) truly means; and for what? Shouldn’t we already be offended? After all, we have already been systematically pushed down by the people who Santa himself opposed.
I believe that the true meaning of Christmas is about being grateful, even if we don’t have it all in order this year. To recognize the truth in the season is to free ourselves, not enslave ourselves to be mindless sheep as we are told by the majority.
Jesus said that heaven and earth will pass away, and I interpret that in part meaning that there will be no more adversity, no more in-fighting, no more hurt in faith and political digressions.
Until then, I say, either boycott Santa, or suck it up and accept Christmas for what it really is - a time of hope, patience, and anticipation for peace and prosperity.
After all, even if a person does not accept that Jesus has come as God incarnated to abolish once and for all the evil of the world, most at least respect him as a prophet.
After all, even if a person does not accept that Jesus has come as God incarnated to abolish once and for all the evil of the world, most at least respect him as a prophet.
So, God bless us, every one.
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