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There is something magical about Christmas.
Sure, we are busy.
The lines are endless,
the traffic is crazy,
we eat too much,
and we spend too much money.
But, Christmas can also be a time for us to reconnect with the magic of the holiday season.
There are things in life that we cannot see, yet we choose to believe. All over the world, there are examples of belief: God, Allah, Jesus, the Great Spirit, and Buddha to name but a few. Despite science and technological advancements, people still choose to believe.
Belief is powerful—almost magical.
Belief can make things manifest.
Believing in the inherent goodness of people can bring out the goodness within, while believing the worst can often have equally negative results.
What is belief, anyway?
Michael Shermer, author of The Believing Brain, explains that, “The brain is a belief engine. From sensory data flowing in through the senses the brain naturally begins to look for and find patterns, and then infuses those patterns with meaning.”
We are hardwired to believe, so we look for reasons to bring that possibility to our everyday lives.
Yet, belief is not for the faint of heart. Believing isn’t easy—in fact, most beliefs are challenged on a regular basis.
Take love. We don’t see love, yet we choose to believe in it. There is nothing easy about love. In fact, we often experience the most hurt from the people who say they love us the most. And yet, we still choose to believe that the power of love will ultimately bring fulfillment and joy to our lives.
That brings us to Christmas. And Santa.
Santa represents possibility, a spirit of generosity, and belief.
The idea of Santa represents the best of humanity and the ways that we can bring joy to the lives of others. Choosing to believe is about seeing limitless possibilities. It’s not about believing in the perfection of a fairy tale; it’s about believing in the ways that we can bring joy to others, share love, and keep a sense of wonder alive in our own hearts, and in the hearts of others.
The Santa Claus story originates from the 3rd century. A monk named St. Nicholas gave all he had to help others and his popularity spread throughout Europe over the years. By the 18th century, the story of Sinter Klaas had made inroads in the New World and the traditions of generosity and spreading joy continued to grow through song, story, TV, and movies.
Many still think that belief in Santa is only for the young.
But, caring for others and showing that caring through generous acts is for all ages.
Bringing joy to those we love and putting the needs of others ahead of our own is inherent to the belief of Christmas.
And so, I choose to believe in the possibilities.
I want others to believe in the possibilities within me and I choose to believe in the possibilities of others.
I choose to believe, to have faith, and to continue to keep the spirit of Christmas alive.
I choose to believe in Santa Claus and the magic of Christmas.
AUTHOR: CARIN REEVE
IMAGE: DON PEEK / U.S. AIR FORCE
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