E-Vangel Newsletter
December 25, 2012
Pastorgraphs: “Yes Virginia, There is Christmas”
In
1897, eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon asked her father, Dr. Philip O'Hanlon,
if Santa Claus really existed. He suggested she write the editor of The New
York Sun, saying “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so!”
A
modern-day Virginia might ask if Christmas really exists. Forget the question
of Santa’s existence (although I still believe in him, too). Now all we hear is
the political correctness of “holiday” rather than Christmas, and the attempt
to take “Christ” out of everything.
Taking
liberties with Virginia’s original question, and Francis
Pharcellus Church’s masterful editorial reply, here is a modern response to
Virginia’s question.
Dear Pastor Bill:
I am 8 years old. I am confused. The stores
no longer display Christmas. They call it “holiday”, or something else, but not
Christmas. Some of my little friends say there is no longer Christmas. Papa
says "If you see it in ‘The E-Vangel’ it's so." Please tell me the
truth, is there a really a Christmas?
Virginia O'Hanlon
115 West 95th Street
My Dearest Virginia,
Your little friends
are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They
do not believe in anything except what they see. They think that nothing can be
which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether
they be men's or children's are little. In this great universe of ours man is a
mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world
about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of
truth and knowledge.
How futile it is
that everyone wants to change “Christmas” to “Holiday”. Don’t they know that
Holiday means “Holy Day”? Christmas is the holiest day of the year.
Yes, Virginia,
there is Christmas. Christmas exists as certainly as love and generosity and
devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest
beauty and joy.
Alas! how dreary
would be the world if there were no Christmas! It would be as dreary as if
there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, and
no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment,
except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world
would be extinguished.
From the very First
Christmas, when God gave us the greatest Gift we shall ever receive, Christmas
has been a time of great wonder, joy and love. The heavens filled with the
songs of angels. And God chose to come to us as an innocent child, like you,
Virginia. It is your childlike faith that will keep Christmas alive
forevermore.
Not believe in
Christmas! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the Nativity
scenes on Christmas eve to see in baby Jesus the wonderful love of God; but
even if they did not see, what would that prove? Even if nobody sees, that is
no sign that there is no Christmas. The most real things in the world are those
that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see guardian angels dancing
on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody
can conceive or imagine all the wonders that are unseen in the world.
If there is no
Christmas, then why does everyone take time off from work, visiting families
and friends, and exchanging gifts? Shouldn’t those who protest Christmas be at
their jobs, slaving away (while we getting kisses and hugs from our loved ones
on Christmas morning)? Now if they would do that, I might believe they have
integrity. But everyone looks forward to Christmas, whether they believe or
not!
You tear apart the
baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering
the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of
all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith,
imagination, poetry, love, and romance can push aside that curtain and view and
picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in
all this world there is nothing else as real and abiding.
No Christmas?
Christmas is the story of God’s greatest love for each and every boy and girl
who comes into this world. Christmas is God’s gift to the whole world. You may
even say wherever God’s love exists, there is Christmas. Thank God Christmas
lives, and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times
ten thousand years from now, Christmas will continue to make glad the heart of
childhood.
It is so, Virginia.
Thank God, it is so. Christmas really does exist. Remember Virginia, “Wise Men
still seek Him”.
May
Christ be reborn anew in us this Christmas!
Pastor
Bill
From the
Quote Garden:
“Which Christmas is the most vivid to me?
It's always the next Christmas.”
~ Joanne Woodward ~
Christ United Methodist Ministry
Center
“Christ
in the Heart of San Diego”
3295
Meade Avenue - San Diego, CA 92116 - (619) 284-9205
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