In the movie The Polar Express, only those who truly believe in Santa Claus can hear the bells on Santa's sleigh. Teaching kids to believe in Santa Claus is good practice for them to learn how to believe. In Terry Pratchett’s novel The Hogfather, Susan discusses with her grandfather the importance of learning to believe with his version of Santa called the Hogfather - “All right," said Susan. "I'm not stupid. You're saying humans need... fantasies to make life bearable." REALLY? AS IF IT WAS SOME KIND OF PINK PILL? NO. HUMANS NEED FANTASY TO BE HUMAN. TO BE THE PLACE WHERE THE FALLING ANGEL MEETS THE RISING APE. "Tooth fairies? Hogfathers? Little—" YES. AS PRACTICE. YOU HAVE TO START OUT LEARNING TO BELIEVE THE LITTLE LIES. "So we can believe the big ones?" YES. JUSTICE. MERCY. DUTY. THAT SORT OF THING. "They're not the same at all!" YOU THINK SO? THEN TAKE THE UNIVERSE AND GRIND IT DOWN TO THE FINEST POWDER AND SIEVE IT THROUGH THE FINEST SIEVE AND THEN SHOW ME ONE ATOM OF JUSTICE, ONE MOLECULE OF MERCY. AND YET—Death waved a hand. AND YET YOU ACT AS IF THERE IS SOME IDEAL ORDER IN THE WORLD, AS IF THERE IS SOME...SOME RIGHTNESS IN THE UNIVERSE BY WHICH IT MAY BE JUDGED. "Yes, but people have got to believe that, or what's the point—" MY POINT EXACTLY.” Christmas encourages us to believe that someone is watching over us and is excited to bless us with gifts. If we have to practice believing in a bearded man flying through the sky that can be everywhere in one night, then that will help us to be ready to believe in our Heavenly Father. I hope that all of us can believe strongly enough to hear the bells on Christmas Day and that we can believe strongly enough to hear the still, small voice of the Spirit.
