15 hours Ago
It is the most reprinted newspaper editorial in the English language. It has been translated into approximately 20 languages and adapted as a movie, television special, and musical. It is “ Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus ” written by F.
P. Church in 1897. Why is it so popular? Perhaps it is the deep desire in all of us to believe in goodness.
Perhaps it is that just believing in goodness is a salve and finding it is a miracle cure. Church wrote: “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist.
” Church was focused on answering a little girl’s question about the existence of one Santa. In fact, there is more than one. All Santas are recognized by their “love and generosity and devotion.
” All who sincerely carry those qualities within themselves possess the essence of Santa Claus. “Your little friends are wrong.” Church wrote, “They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age.
” Those who tell you not to believe are skeptical, even cynical. They leave a chill in their wake. Skeptics merely doubt us; cynics might even sneer at us and leave us feeling exhausted and apathetic.
The iciness caused by their wishing to be the smartest person in the room, to dazzle with their brilliance without seeing, hearing, or touching us, leaves behind in us feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy. On the other hand, those who are generous at heart leave space for others and cause others to feel good, Church wrote, “..
. and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.” There are those who care about what you think of them.
They bring gifts only to say “look what a good boy am I.” We sense the insincerity by the odd feeling they leave behind. When we find the spark of the jolly giver — the real generous soul — it brightens every corner of our lives, curls our lips into smiles and warms us.
In the current atmosphere of ad hominem attacks, where we might mistake sneering for intelligence, lack of caring for strength and self-indulgence for success, it is easy to lose the ability to identify the Santas. In the flood of words spewed to overwhelm and get control of the conversation, in the rich mix of truth and misinformation, we can misplace our ability to discriminate. How do we reclaim it? Church wrote: “The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see.
” Can you see love? What is the shape of kindness? What is the height of honesty? What is the width of character? Goodness, love, generosity and devotion live among us. Santa, the jolly elf, is the annual reminder. “Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.
No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives and lives forever.” Let none forget. Let none of us lose our ability to distinguish the gift giver from the self- dealer.
May none of us lose faith in the existence of goodness. He did exclaim, as he drove out of sight, “to all a good night.” But he never said goodbye.
Even in the darkest times, goodness and generosity are with us — seek it, recognize it, and reach out for it. Happy holidays to all..
