by Joseph Planey
The city is blanketed with a fresh three-inch snowfall on top of the compacted previous snows. It makes for a serene look early in the morning before any footprints or traffic have disrupted the splendid look of the unbroken snow.
It is the last weekend before Christmas, and the local shopping mall is resplendent in its Christmas decorations of red, green and gold. The sights and sounds of the season are reminiscent of a Courier and Ives painting.
The mall Santa Claus is preparing to greet the mass of children brought by their parents to convey their gift wishes.
This is no ordinary mall Santa Claus, however. Stanley, a 68-year-old retired machinist truly looks the part. Since his retirement, Stanley has let his silver-white hair and beard grow long. His red uniform looks like the real thing, and Stanley’s wife makes sure that it is well maintained with no spots or stains and all the buttons intact. His black boots always are well-shined as are his buttons and belt buckles. Even in the summertime when he is out he makes sure that he is well-groomed and wears a wool shirt, wool pants and suspenders. Many children have come up to him and asked him if he is Santa Claus. His responses and laughter sound very much like the real Santa to them.
Stanley had found an 1890’s Portland Cutter sleigh, the kind that was used for winter transportation back then. He diligently restored it and painted it in the seasonal colors of red and gold. The mall crew has used his sleigh as part of the Christmasland setting. The children enjoy climbing up into it.
The first child in line is a pensive-looking young man who approaches Stanley cautiously. As Stanley belts out a “ho-ho-ho, what’s your name young man, have you been a good boy and what would you like for Christmas?”
The boy responds, “I’m Johnny, Santa, and I have been a good boy………..why is there so much bad in the world? Why are there wars and why do people kill each other? Why do people do so many bad things to each other…?”
Stanley is momentarily at a loss for words to such profound questioning from such a young person. Stanley regains his composure and says, “bad things and bad people seem to get more publicity than good things and good people.” Johnny responds, “Well, I don’t want any toys or gifts for myself, I would just like there to be peace in the world amongst all people.”
Stanley continues, “We must remember what holiday we are celebrating. It is the birthday of Jesus Christ who is the Prince of Peace.”
Stanley then adds, “Jesus’s life consisted of acts of kindness and as he grew into a man and spoke to the crowds he stressed the importance of doing good to each other.”
Stanley continues, “It is difficult, if not impossible, to prevent others from doing wrong or bad things…but we can control what we do and we can act according to the teachings of Jesus Christ. If more people followed the path of Jesus there would be fewer wars, killings and suffering.”
Stanley concludes, “Johnny, if you make it your goal to follow Jesus’ teachings and do good daily with your parents, your brothers and sisters, your schoolmates and all the people you come in contact with…in your heart you will receive your ‘impossible’ Christmas wish.”
These profound words spoken by a mall Santa Claus to the questioning of a young lad, if adopted and lived out by all the peoples of the world would indeed bring “peace on Earth and goodwill to all men.”
December 9, 2009