I Believe in Santa Claus

As we are all adults here, I will speak directly.  I am fifty years old, and I believe in Santa Claus.

The fat man in the red suit at the North Pole?  That Santa Claus?

Yes, I do.  In theory.

In my own time as a kid, we always opened our presents on Christmas Eve, before the Big Man made his trip.  It made me wonder, but I took it on faith.

I eventually taught my own children that I believe in Santa Claus.  Santa is the embodiment of the best things we do as people.  Where kindness is shown, Santa is there.  Where a hand reaches out to help, Santa is there.  Where love is shown to those hard to love, Santa is there.  Even where someone stands up for another who is unwilling or able to stand up for themselves, Santa is there.

I have some examples of Santa in action:

A young man I coached a few years ago happens to be an exceptional athlete.  When his high school career ends this spring, he should end up with 11 varsity letters.  However, he works part time at a grocery store.  He has $20 in his pocket to buy lunch and a couple of other things on a Sunday.  Enter an elderly lady buying necessities and is $20 short at the register.  Enter an athlete, willing to give everything he had to help someone meet their needs.  He is not just an exceptional athlete, he is Santa.  Santa is real.

A man I have become acquainted with spent his life as Santa.  A firefighter by trade, he served his city for many years before retiring.  When other people ran out of burning buildings, he ran in.  Sometimes, the gift is the gift of life.  Santa is real.

By the way, Santa tends to run in families: this firefighter's son completed his basic training in the United States Marine Corps.  The hand reaches to help those you work with, too.  If they get better, stronger, and believe in themselves, that gift may never be repaid.  Santa is real.

I have a couple of friends in law enforcement.  One, recently promoted to Sergeant, is always ready to help someone in need, and has been in the conversation for Officer of the Year annually.  Another spends his free time coaching High School Basketball and Softball.  He coaches for the game that starts at age 18, too.  They and their brethren have had a rough year in public opinion, but every one of them is ready to give everything they have to keep their communities safe.  Santa is real.

Working in the medical field, I see a lot of gifts given: Gift of Life, Gift of Hope, Gift of Health.  The radiology department at our hospital annuals adopts a family and provides presents, food, and personal items.  We also donate food to our clinic designed for people without health insurance.  Santa is real.

We hear about horrible things happening in San Bernardino and Paris.  We hear about war and rumors of war.  We hear about about athletic thugs committing crimes and continuing to play their game because winning is more important.  I say there is more out there to be optimistic about.  For every bad incident, thousands more instances of people giving a gift to someone else goes unnoticed.  Every time those gifts are given, it is support for the existence of the red suit.

Santa is real.