A Look at Claus

The time is upon us when kids are seriously wondering what Santa Claus is bringing them. I recall as a child that he brought me a lot of nice items, from a race car set to a bicycle built to the specs I presented to him in a letter. I truly believed that Santa knew his stuff, that I was on the receiving end of something wonderful, and that I loved the guy. But then, I grew up and you know the rest of it.
However, looking at Santa Claus, it is truly amazing that mankind was able to come up with such a wonderful, sweet fantasy. Of course, the idea did originate from a real living being in our history, Saint Nicholas, yet the human imagination has made him so much more today. He is practically at superhero status.
Yet, what is it that makes Claus click? He lives in the North Pole which, during winter and Christmas, is about the coldest and darkest place on earth. Living in such an environment, whether physically or emotionally, and still having a yearning to give to others completely contradicts our studies in psychology. The experts would have him being down and out, and most likely receiving a government handout each month. But instead, he is a jolly, old soul, who has a belly that shakes like jelly when he laughs. From what I have heard, that is a sign of genuine happiness and cheer. He seems even driven by his desire to give and share, plus to make sure there is an encouragement for and a reward for good behavior all around the world. Claus definitely is someone who does not allow his surroundings to determine who he is.
Another tidbit on the environment in which Santa lives is the fact the North Pole is in the middle of the Artic Ocean. So the location also conflicts with geographical teachings. The fact Claus can make a home here is just one of many amazing, unexplainable feats that he seems to perform with ease. He is able to take a sleigh and reindeer completely around the world within 24 hours, stopping at each place as well. He can squeeze his XXXL body through the tiniest chimneys, and he manages to avoid getting burned at the bottom. You also have to wonder at the guy's metabolism as he usually leaves every plate of cookies and every glass of milk left for him empty. As a child, I found it astonishing how well he got around even before Christmas. The man was at every shopping center we went to in the same day. I remember Dad telling me once as a child that he saw Santa's sleigh going from one center to the other, at the same time we were driving to that very next center. How I wish now that he would have pointed that out. That would have been something to see. Yet again, going back to Mr. Claus, he does rank up there again with those superheroes and their amazing accomplishments.
Now, to my fellow Christians who feel Santa is stealing the spotlight from the true meaning of Christmas, might I remind you that he is a saint. This means he recognizes the significance of Christ's birth just like the rest of us. Maybe he even practices his appreciation for the birth better than most. Others have said that Santa's giving (and all of our giving at Christmas) is a symbol of the gift God gave us in Christ. If certain Christians feel they need to point a finger, look in the mirror and at all of us. It is people in general who have hidden the true meaning of this season and the fun spirit of Santa Claus with corporate and political greed. Again, don't blame Santa. The fact he wants to give us something in secret when we are all asleep, plus not asking for anything in return, except for us to be good, should tell us that he yearns for his part in the celebration to be simple. His mode of transportation should tell us this as well.
To conclude, we need to remind the adult in each of us that we can still enjoy Santa Claus. We can definitely share him with our children and grandchildren, but we can also take part in his ministry of action. We can let our desire to do good things drive us, rather than letting our environment play that role. Plus, we might be able to bring more good cheer back to Christmas and the birth of our Savior through simple acts of giving. The simplicity can make it profound and more memorable.