YES, VIRGINIA, THERE IS A SANTA CLAUS!

Posted on December 22, 2020 by Virginia

 “Personally, of course, I believe in Santa Claus; but it is the season of forgiveness, and I will forgive others for not doing so.” G.K. Chesterton

As Virginia’s post-a-day gig “Advent-ure” winds down (Christmas is Friday!) here is something shared a few years ago that is especially appropriate for 2020. Over the years (for obvious reasons) Virginia has treasured this editorial written by Francis Pharcellus Church that was printed in 1897 and reprinted countless times…

NEW YORK SUN, SEPTEMBER 21, 1897

“We take pleasure in answering thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among friends of The Sun:

Dear Editor—

I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.”  Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?

Virginia O’ Hanlon
115 West Ninety Fifth Street

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except 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.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He 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 Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence.

We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The external light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies 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 there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

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, poetry, love, 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 real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! He lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.”  (Francis Pharcellus Church, 21 September 1897)

*****************

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus!

grace, peace & Hope

Virginia : )

“Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias…”

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#ADVENT: BLEAK WINTER BLUES (sort of)

Posted on December 21, 2020 by Virginia

On this first day of winter in the northern hemisphere it’s bleak and cold here in Williamsburg, Virginia. Seems appropriate somehow!

This holiday season has been a bit on the bleaker side with so many celebratory things we take for granted off the schedule. (Parties, concerts, massive town gatherings…)

Our celebratory reserves may be a little bare, like these trees. This year we also may not be able to give the kind of gifts we would like to give our friends and family.

The reason for the season, however, hasn’t changed one bit: the coming of Jesus into our world, and into our hearts.

On this bleak winter day remember the most important gift we can give is our love…

What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb,
If I were a wise man I would do my part,
Yet what I can I give Him,
Give my heart.  (Christina Rossetti, 1830 –1894)

grace, peace & bleak winter blues

Virginia : )

Photos: Chincoteague National Wildlife Reserve, VA

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#ADVENT: LOVE BLOOMING

Posted on December 20, 2020 by Virginia

On this last Sunday of Advent, here is a powerful prayer for our hearts to contemplate…

“To the impossible: Yes!
Enter and penetrate
O Spirit. Come and bless
This hour: the star is late.
Only the absurdity of love
Can break the bonds of hate.

This is the irrational season
When love blooms bright and wild.
Had Mary been filled with reason
There’d have been no room for the child.”

Madeleine L’Engle  (from Glimpses of Grace)

grace, peace & irrational blooms

Virginia : )

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#ADVENT: A Quirky Tree Perspective

Posted on December 19, 2020 by Virginia

On this final Saturday of Advent Virginia is contemplating what it means to see the same thing from different perspectives. In this case a quirky tree she caught on camera two Decembers ago at Lewis Ginter’s GardenFest of Lights.

Perspective 1: Quirky tree by sunlight, clouds on the horizon

Perspective 2: Quirky tree at sunset, clear skies

Perspective 3: Quirky tree at dusk, lights on view

Perspective 4: Quirky tree at night, fully lit

You may be wondering what’s up with four pictures of the same tree? In the daylight you can’t see lights on the tree, although they were switched on. Yet, in the dark of night the lights shine the brightest. (You may suspect where Virginia is going with this.)

Just like the lights on this quirky tree, God’s love is with us all the time. When we’re cruising through sunny days, the twinkles of God’s love may not be so easily seen. But when times are hard and dark, God illuminates our lives with love and grace.

A 5th perspective: Quirky tree at Gardenfest 2019!

“The forces of good surround us in wonder, they firm up our courage for what comes our way, God’s with us from dawn to slumber of evening, the promise of Love at break of each day.”  Dietrich Bonhoeffer

grace, peace & quirky tree perspectives

Virginia : )

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#ADVENT: A PRAYER FOR THE NIGHT

Posted on December 18, 2020 by Virginia

On this Advent Friday here is a Benedictine prayer for the nighttime (that also works when things seem dark and gloomy…)

“Now in the fading light of day,
Maker of all to You I pray,
That with Your ever-watchful love,
You guard and keep me from above.

Help and defend me through the night,
Danger and terror put to flight.
Never let evil have its way,
Preserve me for another day.

Father Almighty this be done,
Through Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who in one Spirit I adore,
Who reigns with You forevermore.  Amen.”

“The Lord is my Light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?…” Psalm 27:1

grace, peace & nighttime prayers

Virginia : )

Photos: Monument Valley, Utah

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#ADVENT: HOLIDAY WREATHS

Posted on December 17, 2020 by Virginia

Wreaths on our doors are a symbol of welcome. In our home we usually have welcome wreaths on our front door, changing them out according to the season.

But during Advent wreaths take on a whole new meaning. The circle of the wreath signifies eternal life, and the candles of an Advent wreath represent the Light of Christ.

The practice of making holiday wreaths began not long after the advent of Christmas trees in the 16th century. As evergreen trees in northern and eastern Europe were trimmed to fit in homes, the culture of not wasting anything turned excess greenery into circle ornaments, then wreaths. Evergreen trees that thrived through harsh winter symbolized hope, thus placing a circle wreath in a home represented hope in the eternal love of Christ.

The Governor’s Palace festively wreathed in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia (the state!)

I don’t know when wreaths began symbolizing welcome all year around, but in our town of Williamsburg putting up wreaths has been a sign of welcome for years on end.

Chowning’s Tavern Holiday Wreath, Williamsburg

Holiday wreaths can be a daily reminder: are we putting wreaths on the doors of our hearts for Christ to always be welcome? Are we putting welcome wreaths out for others (especially those different from us) to be at home in our hearts?

grace, peace & holiday wreaths

Virginia  : )

“Oh! Like a wreath let Christmas mirth today encircle all the earth, and bind the nations with the love that Jesus brought from heaven above.” Maud Lindsay (1874–1941)

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#Advent: Quickie Quote

Posted on December 16, 2020 by Virginia

On this Advent Wednesday here’s a short yet powerful quote to contemplate…

“The teaching of Christ is not Christ for me unless I am determined to have Christ formed in me.” Oswald Chambers 

grace, peace & spiritual formation

Virginia : )

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#ADVENT: GLOOMY DAY LIGHT

Posted on December 15, 2020 by Virginia

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5

It’s amazing what a difference light makes when things are gloomy.

We may have trouble finding our way when doom and gloom cloud our horizons. It’s at times when the doom is darkest, a little light goes a long way.

“Look at how a single candle can both defy and define the darkness.” Anne Frank

grace, peace & GLOOMY DAY LIGHT

Virginia : )

“Faith is not a light which scatters all our darkness, but a lamp which guides our steps in the night and suffices for the journey.”  Pope Francis

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#ADVENT: Dark Nights of the Soul

Posted on December 14, 2020 by Virginia

“The endurance of darkness is the preparation for great light.” Saint John of the Cross

Today we remember St. John of the Cross, a 16th century Spanish saint (1541-1591) well known for his “Dark Night of the Soul.”  During his ministry St. John of the Cross was misunderstood, mistreated, and maligned.

He came to know the dark intimately while imprisoned for his progressive faith. Yet in the depths of suffering he came to a deeper understanding of the incredible heights of God’s love. In these tumultuous times may we take comfort from St. John of the Cross that the Light of God’s love is with us in the darkest depths of our scariest nights.

“In the dark night of the soul, bright flows the river of God.” Saint John of the Cross

“And I saw a river over which every soul must pass to reach the Kingdom of Heaven, and the name of that river was suffering … and then I saw a boat which carries souls across the river, and the name of that boat was Love.” Saint John of the Cross

grace, peace & LOVE

Virginia : )

“Where there is no love, put love, and you will draw love out.” Saint John of the Cross

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#ADVENT: JOY! JOY! JOY!

Posted on December 13, 2020 by Virginia

“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God…” (Isaiah 61:10)

On this Gaudete Sunday of Advent we are called to “Rejoice!” Given all the staggering challenges that surround us these days, finding our joy grooves may be a difficult task.

All during this season we hear carols about joy and songs of good cheer. It’s easy sometimes to confuse joy with merrymaking and happiness, but joy is so much more.

“Joy is the noblest human act.” St. Thomas Aquinas

Joy is not superficial happiness that depends on what happens. Joy comes from within the heart, sometimes deep within when horribles squash and pummel our hope to oblivion.

Joy chooses faith in God’s love, mercy, and grace to carry us through tough times. Joy sustains our hurting hearts, however deep our hurts may be.

Joy does not mean pain-free living, but does not let pain drive us to darkness. Joy chooses to follow the Light, even when it’s hard at times to see the dimmest flicker.

Joy finds value in the rubble of decimated lives, because those lives are valuable. Joy comes from a well of Love transported on wings of compassion that lift up the brokenhearted.

Joy finds and grows roses in the rubble of our lives (and rubble that surrounds us), watering them with extra helpings of faith, hope and love.

At the end and beginning of each day, joy is a choice.

“Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day. It is a choice based on the knowledge that we belong to God and have found in God our refuge…” Henri Nouwen

Joy comes in all shapes and sizes, and Joy is what this season of Advent is all about.

Light coming into darkness. Love incarnated. Emmanuel, God-with-us.

Joy is possible, because Jesus Christ is.

grace, peace & joy

Virginia : )

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour…”

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