The story of Santa is just that -- a story. It began a long time ago, with a man named Nicholas, who was a bishop in Myra, in present-day Turkey. Nicholas was a humble man with a special fondness for children. He had a reputation for secret gift-giving, such as putting coins in the shoes of those who left them out for him. There are many other examples of Nicholas's generosity that were told. Over time, Nicholas became Saint Nicholas, which is the church's way of honoring him.
And his story spread, as beautiful stories tend to do. It was such a beautiful story that everyone wanted to be a part of it, not just in Greece and Turkey, where Nicholas was from, but all over the world. People changed the story somewhat and called Nicholas by other names: Father Christmas, Santa Claus, Kris Kringle and so forth. Just as Nicholas gave gifts in secret, so do parents and other adults give secret gifts to children.
The story of Santa has continued all of these centuries because it's a powerful story that helps give our lives meaning. And that story has not ended with you learning the "truth" about Santa. Santa is as real now as he was the moment before you asked the question. And the story will continue as long as there are people willing to tell the story and live in it.
Yes, the story goes on -- it's just that you're in a different place in the story now. Before, you were in the part of the story that received gifts as if by magic on Christmas morning. Guess what? You still get to be in that part of the story. But now you also get to be in the part of the story that shares those gifts with other people. Maybe you'd like to help pick out stocking stuffers for your younger siblings, for example.
There are all kinds of characters in stories like this. There are characters who think the whole thing is silly and a waste of time. That's OK. There are also people who go around telling their siblings or their peers the "truth." You can choose to do that if you want. But then you've taken away their choice to be where they want to be in the story. I hope you won't take that choice away from them. They'll come to another place in the story when it is time.
When I said earlier that the story began with Nicolas of Myra, that's not really true. Because Nicholas was part of an older and deeper story, the story of Jesus. Jesus' life was one of giving to those around him, living simply, sharing good news with hurting people and asking others to follow his example. Nicholas decided that he wanted to dedicate his life to living in that story. So many of us, when we participate in the Santa story, are also participating in Jesus' story. For others, the Santa story is not connected with Jesus, but with the spirit of giving. That's OK too.
Over time, you will have questions about Jesus' story as well. How can a man die and come back to life? Are all of Jesus' miracles really possible? What happens to us after we die, if anything? I have all of those questions too, and plenty of doubts, actually -- and probably always will. But the bottom line for me is that the story of Jesus has grabbed ahold of me and won't let me go. It's the story I want to live in, as best I can, for as long as I can.
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