"If you haven't any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble."
--Bob Hope
Whether Santa is real or not really doesn't matter, as he has been endowed with some remarkable qualities that we can all learn from. In fact, in many ways, he is better able to show us true spirituality than even the average guru.
- He asks us to be good.
This is significant considering many of us so often act selfishly and greedily. By being good he means being kind, generous, considerate and thoughtful.
He gives to everyone, whoever and wherever they are, all at pretty much the same time. And he does it without asking for anything in return (except for the odd glass of milk and cookies). This indicates he has a truly generous heart, one that takes great joy in giving without needing to receive, which is a very important lesson, as giving with no expectation of getting is the quickest route to happiness. Through giving to others, à la Santa, we get away from selfishness and neediness.
Rather, he considers what the most appropriate gift for each person is. This shows great discernment. Too often we give without thinking (like giving candy to a starving child when what they need is food), so here Santa shows us how giving needs wisdom in order to be of most benefit.
In other words, he takes the time to hear and pay attention, which we could all do a lot more of. How often do we really listen to someone without judging them, or without imposing our own thoughts on them or telling them what we think is right for them?
He seems to have psychic abilities, flies in the sky with reindeer, descends chimneys without getting covered in soot and goes by many names and forms, all while remaining extraordinarily elusive. Has anyone actually ever seen him? The lesson here is that we can all do more than we think we can, and we don't need to be applauded. We can practice random acts of kindness quietly, simply, without bringing attention to ourselves.
We can do the same for each other. There's no need to spread doom and gloom or focus on what is wrong with ourselves or the world. By focusing on what is good we not only bring a lightness of spirit to others, but we also get to feel a lot better, too.
In other words, he is inside every one of us. Santa is our true, authentic self that is there when we can let go of our ego-centered needs.
As Winston Churchill said, "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."
What does Santa mean to you? Do comment below.
Happy holidays and happy giving!
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