Dear Santa
Thanks to my friend and colleague Jerry Herring for alerting me to this news item.
A billboard going up in several cities
across the country has some church groups upset.
It shows a girl writing a letter to Santa saying,
“All I want for Christmas
is to skip church.
I’m too old for fairy tales.”
The billboard is paid for
by a group called American Atheists.
— http://www.wlwt.com/news/billboard-all-i-want-for-christmas-is-to-skip-church-im-too-old-for-fairytales/30026124
Am I the only one that notices the irony that a letter addressed I’m too old for fairy tales is in a letter that begins Dear Santa?
And I know there are pastors who would like to skip church, especially for Christmas. All the special events of Advent are optional for laity but mandatory for clergy, and too often leave little family time. By the time they get to Christmas Eve and Christmas, some pastors are wrung out and would be happy to join the letter writer. As my late, great, self-professed “red neck consultant” Biz Payne loved to say, “Jesus made a big mistake being born at Christmastime; there’s just too much else going on.”
But I’m perhaps most amazed at how acceptable it is in our culture to focus animosity on one faith. For example, in addition to this billboard, characters on our TV shows use our Lord’s name as an expletive without causing a single feather to ruffle. On other shows pastors are portrayed as buffoonish at best and evil at worst. By contrast, editorial cartoons and restaurant menus are quickly changed for fear of offending members of another faith.
Conclusion, in response to all this? With my tongue almost firmly in my cheek, and with my eyes only slightly rolling, I could almost write Dear Santa: All I want for Christmas is to be able to enjoy it.
joescheets 
This post is very upsetting……that our Country is allowing these “groups” to take Christ out of Christmas! They have taken him out of our schools, public arenas’, etc. and now this! I do not profess to be one of the greatest Christians there is, but I am a Christian and proud of it and talk to God many times a day. No one can take that away from me! Why do the very people who founded this country have to apologize for celebrating Christ’s birthday. My daughter works for a wonderful company that is owned by mainly Jewish people. They celebrate their own holiday but they also have a very nice Christmas party for their employees. Why can’t the rest of the world do the same? Thanks for letting me vent and by the way, I could keep going, but at this point, I should keep quiet! Merry CHRISTMAS!
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I have been void of computer time for over a week. In a way, since I normally come here, I am skipping some of my meditative focuses. This disturbs me. My son and his almost-fiance broke up late last December. I loved her like a daughter and was so wishing she would be one. Some wondered how I, a known Christian to them, would welcome a Jewish woman into my family so readily. I made a great effort to honor her holidays and she honored ours. Passover often falls over Easter. She came to Easter dinner, brought most of her own food, but I also fixed things I knew she could eat. Last time, she brought the flourless chocolate cake. We enjoyed it immensely. She also celebrated Christmas with us. I made sure she had a bag of eight little gifts on the first night of Hannakuh, numbered one through eight with a Hannakuh card card. We respected each other’s religions. I wish others could do the same. I have had many Jewish friends over the years and the relationships have been close to the one with Jenn. I do miss her (long story as to why, not me). I am so thankful for Rev. James Nettleton who educated us in other religions, even taking us to services of other religions, in Confirmation Class in the late 1960s. In high school, I took an elective class in World Cultures where other religions were covered and again at McKendree, a course in Religion (8:00 a.m., head nodding), in which other religions were “touched” on. I feel quite fortunate, but I grieve those not as educated. Like Bill’s and Jan’s daughter’s company bosses, examples need to grow and grow to rub off. Tolerance has been missing with our politicians for several years and it has colored the country. My wish for Christmas is for Tolerance to break out all over, especially in this region!!
I may be absent (just think Santa in her workshop) for several more days. But as you know, I get here and stay for a while when I do! Love to you this Christmas Season!!!
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Thank you, and thank you! Greatly appreciate you
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