“Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.”

This affirmation of faith by Francis Church to little Virginia of those things “most real” that are unseen but believed continues to warm the hearts of those who can relate to holding a rainbow or a little stardust in their hands, those who continue to marvel with wonder at the beauty of butterflies and hummingbirds, a field of flowers and a canopy of stars at night, the magical laughter of children at play and so much more of Creation. But it was for good reason Jesus pointed to children as the example of those who enter the kingdom of heaven, that unless adults have the believing faith in God of a child they will not enter into this kingdom.

    Two of the most endearing qualities of a child are trust and imagination. They will believe in magic, they thrill to stories of fairies and enchanted lands. Christmas, Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, stories of birds and animals, enchanted islands and forests; these are the domain of childhood.

    We don't forsake these things in adulthood. We continue to want our Merlins, Camelots, and enchanted glades. As parents, we enjoy making things like Santa with his elves and reindeer, that magical fairyland of the North Pole and letters to Santa real to our children. All too quickly we find ourselves adults and learn of the fantasies of childhood, but the intent of parents in wanting their children taught and exposed to the myths is the innocence of goodness.

    Santa is the ultimate angel to a child. There isn't the slightest trace of evil connected to Santa; he could never do anything wrong or anything to hurt a child. Santa believes in children, in the innocence of childhood. Our desire, as adults, to believe in angels follows the same pattern. We grow into adulthood and have to leave the myth of Santa, but we desperately want to continue holding on to what Santa represents.

As a minister my greatest “sermon” was one I preached to my little girl Karen. When she asked about our being made of dust I told her “Sweetheart, God made us out of the same stuff he used to make the stars; and that makes you my little star.” Karrie giggled at that, and climbing down off my lap went away happy with what I have ever since considered my most profound exposition of Genesis. Children are born believing, and Jesus gave the most somber words of warning to those that would abuse a child, and such abuse can take the form of abusing children of those things of faith properly the domain of childhood.

Detractors are certain to attack the teaching of “lies” to children. But such critics should learn the distinction between lies meant to do harm or take advantage common to the domain of Satan rather than the stories told children by those who love them, stories meant to encourage the best attributes of virtue for example.

When I wrote an essay in defense of Santa pointing out to my Christian friends they should not consider him in an adversarial position to Christ but quite the contrary, there were many who took exception. But for me the fact Santa appeals to the very best of us as human beings, that even when we become adults accepting the denouement of Santa we do not want to give up the best of childhood, and yes the best of adulthood he represents.

Watching the “Today Show,” I found it comforting to see a group of women discussing the merits of anti-aging creams. In the midst of so much bad news abounding here in America that there is still a place for such a thing cannot but warm my heart. And while the cynical would point the accusing finger of vanity, that the gentler things of women concerned for their appearance should still have a place in a world seeming to be going mad gladdens my heart. In some such manner those things having to do with Santa, with butterflies and rainbows continues to be a kind of anchor to my soul.

Were it not for the fact that I have never lost the best of the man, the child within, there might be some justification for detractors claiming I’m among those who grow old reverting to a childish faith. But the best of what we are as human beings, the best of those things believed by little Virginia and affirmed by Francis Church neither grows old nor do they become childish.

But I want to address another matter that weighs heavily upon me. In the midst of oppressive heat and being elderly, living alone and without A/C or even a swamp cooler the incongruity of mentioning Santa Claus at this time is not lost on me. But being acutely aware of the many hazards the elderly in my circumstances face especially those living alone and without any neighbors I at least find comfort in those things taught me as a child by loved ones I fully expect to see again. As I mentioned to one pen pal it is all well and good for me to live with ghosts but this will never take the place of a much needed hug.

For those my detractors that believe I’m simply “religious” I would disabuse these of the notion. In fact, few have more reason to find fault with the churches than me. I have one friend that comes by about once a week to check on me, another who calls occasionally, but strangely enough I have sought in vain to find a church here in the Kern River Valley with an in home ministry to the elderly. Or it may be they simply want nothing to do with an elderly smoker. But then, this thing of being a pariah because of smoking has become a monumental problem for those like me irrespective of any religious beliefs and I expect at any time those in control of our lives like the present Triune Dictatorship to declare people like me “Enemies of the State.”

I have this at least; in my circumstances it no longer matters to me the floor does not get vacuumed.