When I saw my breath early this morning I knew bell ringing was going to be very cold for this Santa's helper. Fearlessly and somewhat foolishly I donned my thin Santa suit and pulled on my non-insulated rubber boots. For two hours I would experience 9 degrees of separation from being the cool Claus and being the cold Claus. My cheeks turned a bright red. My toes froze and ceaseless dripping came from my nose. My fingers, inside thin white gloves, struggled to hold on to the bell as they stiffened.
I could have dressed for the weather and been much more comfortable. I must admit, after about two minutes, that I wished I had come wrapped like we wrap up children before turning them out into the snow. Holly and jolly are hard to do when icicles form on your beard and a chill wind blows the smile off your face. What was I thinking?
But, oh the rewards of placing S. Claus outside Wal Mart this morning! A woman came running up to me to ask if there was a fee to have a picture taken with me. I said 'No.' She ran back to her car and wrestled a young puppy ('afraid of people' she said) and promptly dropped him in my arms. I offered my best smile as the tan and white pup squirmed in my arms. And I thought 'Please don't let him pee on my suit.'
I heard a little boy's voice 'Santa!'. I turned to see a boy of two or three running to wrap his arms around me. I shivered inside when I saw the slimy, green thing hanging from his nose. And I thought "Please don't wipe your nose on my leg." A mother had her picture taken with me followed shortly by her teenage daughter coming back for a picture while planting a kiss on my frozen cheek.
Child after shy child came up to me with eyes filled with joy. Men called out telling me they had been 'good' this year and could I bring the boat, the gun, fun in the sun this year. Inside the store, much in need of a restroom break, Santa stopped to talk to each one who called to him while wondering if he was going to pee on his own knee.
9 degrees of separation gave way to the amazing: a parent thanking me for bending to talk to her little boy...a family thanking me for being willing to have a picture taken (their only Santa picture of the season)...a child promising me they would go to sleep tonight...the warmth of one greeting after another in the parking lot and store.
Being a Santa is such fun. Being a Santa willing to hug a snot-nosed child, wrestle a pup, listen to a child's wish, and always making time for one more visit thawed this Popsicle Santa time and time again. I am so glad I dressed, not for the weather, but for the season of joy! (PS-It only took me 2 hours and a hot shower to thaw my fingers enough to type!)
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
The Dark Side of Christmas
This Saturday I will become 'Santa's Helper' once again. I really enjoy the twinkle in a child's eyes when they see me wrapped in red with my white beard. My heart thrills to hold babies who look at me in wide-eyed wonder with no idea of what has happened to them. I delight in whispered secrets, hugs that hurt, and even a kiss or two. Christmas is the most 'wonder full' time of the year.
It is also one of the darkest times of the year for some of us. Prior to my retirement I came to appreciate and look forward to our 'Longest Night Service' on December 21. While the number of folks attending the service was never great, each person's attendance was significant. We were a gathering of people holding on in the midst of our our pain and sorrow while living in the dark side of Christmas.
Psalm 88 is a song of sorrow and lament. The last verse is a painful one to read or hear: "You have deprived me of friends and companions, and all that I know is the dark." As Christmas comes with carols in the air, shoppers with a blank stare, gifts galore, parties and more there are those who carry heavy hearts. It is tempting to try to 'jolly' them out of their sadness. It is tempting to push them to parties that hurt to much when it seems all is wonderful but not really for them. It is tempting to grab hold of the baby Jesus and tell another-"See, there is good news and great joy coming."
That is not what they need. They know all that. They feel more than that. They do appreciate our presence. Yet, perhaps the best gift we can give to those living in the dark side of Christmas is affirmation that it is okay to feel the way they feel. Blue Christmas is more than a sentimental song from years ago-it is a reality for some people. Professor Ellen Davis, commenting on Psalm 88, wrote these helpful words: "sometimes the only act of faith that is possible--for those who suffer and those who minister to them--it to name our desolation before God, and to implicate God in our suffering."
Reality is that life, at times, hurts so much we can barely rise up and function. The Christmas season may be one of those times. If you know of someone living in the dark side of Christmas this year, your gift to them is understanding, patience, acceptance of how they feel, granting them space, and sitting in faith with them. For I believe God is with us this Christmas even in the dark side.
It is also one of the darkest times of the year for some of us. Prior to my retirement I came to appreciate and look forward to our 'Longest Night Service' on December 21. While the number of folks attending the service was never great, each person's attendance was significant. We were a gathering of people holding on in the midst of our our pain and sorrow while living in the dark side of Christmas.
Psalm 88 is a song of sorrow and lament. The last verse is a painful one to read or hear: "You have deprived me of friends and companions, and all that I know is the dark." As Christmas comes with carols in the air, shoppers with a blank stare, gifts galore, parties and more there are those who carry heavy hearts. It is tempting to try to 'jolly' them out of their sadness. It is tempting to push them to parties that hurt to much when it seems all is wonderful but not really for them. It is tempting to grab hold of the baby Jesus and tell another-"See, there is good news and great joy coming."
That is not what they need. They know all that. They feel more than that. They do appreciate our presence. Yet, perhaps the best gift we can give to those living in the dark side of Christmas is affirmation that it is okay to feel the way they feel. Blue Christmas is more than a sentimental song from years ago-it is a reality for some people. Professor Ellen Davis, commenting on Psalm 88, wrote these helpful words: "sometimes the only act of faith that is possible--for those who suffer and those who minister to them--it to name our desolation before God, and to implicate God in our suffering."
Reality is that life, at times, hurts so much we can barely rise up and function. The Christmas season may be one of those times. If you know of someone living in the dark side of Christmas this year, your gift to them is understanding, patience, acceptance of how they feel, granting them space, and sitting in faith with them. For I believe God is with us this Christmas even in the dark side.
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