YES ANASTASIA, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A SANTA CLAUS

My Dear Anastasia,
Thank you for your very kind greetings on this very special season when we all take time to celebrate the birth of our lord Jesus Christ. It is also the very special time when we remember to give thanks for all the good things that we were able to enjoy and all the good people that have shared our lives during the last year. As I have told you before, this indeed is the true meaning of Christmas, and that all the dazzling lights, the shopping, the gift-giving and the commercialization of the season, should bear no relationship to its real importance to each and every one of us.
I have noted your concern about the over exploitation of “Santa Claus” and its effect on all the children around you. While I agree with you about the “exploitation”, I am sorry that you feel so strongly that “the whole story of Santa Claus is but a myth made up to impress children at Christmas time, and reinforced by society for economic reasons, with very little attention to the birth and life of Jesus Christ”. Although I cannot really disagree with your comment, allow me to qualify it with my own observation that in all matters of living, nothing is strictly black and white and at all times we must never ignore other people’s opinions as well as other possible options.
More than 100 years ago, Francis P. Church, a newspaper correspondent, wrote a beautiful editorial in the New York Sun in response to a question from his eleven year old daughter. Entitled “Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus,” he explained in a simple and eloquent way the reason for believing in the existance of Santa Claus. Here is a part of what he wrote:

“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 at 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 and the eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.”

I am sure you will agree with me that these beautiful words do indeed make a strong and compelling case for children to believe in Santa Claus and his special place in their hearts and minds. Notice however, it does not in anyway negate the real purpose of this blessed season, to honor and give thanks to the Almighty for the birth of Our Savior, Jesus Christ.
The real problem lies in the fact that people are so busy buying gifts, writing cards, organising menus and planning for the upcoming celebrations that they inevitably lose track of the real meaning of Christmas. They even make up stories of a “Jolly Old Man” living somewhere near the north pole who is making plans to deliver presents to all the world’s children, in the hope of somehow impressing them of the truth of the myth. Over the centuries, Society, in its increasing drive to commercialization, has gradually shifted its focus from one of celebrating and thanking God for the gift of his son, to one of celebrating a tradition of giving and receiving gifts and eating, drinking and merry making, with little thought of Jesus, his message and his import.
Regrettably, we have indeed succeeded in removing the “Christ” in Christmas, and replaced it with the “X” in Xmas and in so doing we have succeeded in alienating ourselves and our children from the glory and the beauty of Christianity. We spend more time and effort in glorifying the season with joy and merryment and pay little attention to the message of the angels who announced to the world of the coming of the Savior with the words “Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth, peace and good will to men.”
But, this fact not withstanding, I want you to know that these two concepts are not mutually exclusive and in fact, when you think about it, there is a lot of basic similarities in the messages they bring. The message of Jesus Christ is primarily one of love, sacrifice and giving without expecting anything in return. Even as he died for us on the cross, all he asked from us is our love. So too is the concept of Santa Claus, who spends his life in preparing and giving happiness to children the world over, without any expectation of payback or reward. Don’t you see that in both cases the over-riding message is one of “love and goodwill to all.”
Someone, whose name I do not recall, once wrote:

“Jesus believed in us and gave to us, asking nothing in return. Santa is that symbol of believing and giving without expecting anything. Isn’t this what we want our children to believe and keep alive?”

This indeed my dear Anastasia, is the real meaning and spirit of Christmas; a time to rejoice the birth of Christ, to celebrate his life and his teachings, and to give thanks for his sacrifice on our behalf. In a similar way Santa Claus represents all the goodness of this message in a way a small child is able to understand and identify with.
...... Do you really think we should remove this opportunity?
In our headlong desire to commercialize and profit from the event, we have lost the dignity and integrity of the true christmas spirit in our hearts. Instead of dwelling on the goodness and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on our behalf, we have chosen to spend more time worrying about the material trappings of the season. It is no wonder that the true meaning and intent of Santa Claus has also been buried by the ensuing garbage, and adapted to suit the greedy desires of a distorted society. This indeed is the real problem that is worthy of our concerted efforts to change and improve.
So, you see my dear Anastasia, do not equate the “Santa Claus” projected by the media and by big business, with it's true concept and wholesome symbol of love, sacrifice and commitment. Instead, let us continue to allow him to be the wonderful spirit in the imagination of the young child who is as yet not able to assimilate, as you no doubt are, the true spirit and message of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Uncle Doc

LIFE AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

'Remember the five simple rules to be happy;

-Free your heart from hatred,
Free your mind from worries,

live simply, give more and expect less.”

The above advice by an unknown author is to my mind, the most simple yet most eloquent description for happiness I have ever encountered. By its simplicity and clarity, it underlines, in dramatic effect, the necessary steps needed to achieve the reward of a happy life.
Happiness is never ever an entitlement; it is never automatic nor is it ever inherited or passed on.

The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, in a discussion with students at the Florida International University expressed this concept in the following terms:

"Happiness is not something ready made.

It comes from your own actions"

In his book entitled The Art of Happiness, published in 1998, he further elaborated his vision in these words:

"I believe that the very purpose of our life is to seek happiness.
-That is clear.
Whether one believes in religion or not,
Whether one believes in this religion or that religion,
We all are seeking something better in life.
So, I think, the very motion of our life is towards happiness."

In all his discussions the Dalai advocated that the aim of successful life is not in the acquisition of material fame and fortune, or even in the public recognition of these acquisitions, but rather in the degree of pleasure and happiness we are able to achieve along the way. He stressed that this right of happiness and the ability to find it, is available to everyone who is willing to make the effort to do what is necessary to achieve it. He went further to identify steps that we must all follow in our pursuit of personal happiness. These include:
-Establishing the right mental attitude and expectations.
-Achieving the correct discipline and calmness of mind.
-Controlling emotions, encouraging positive thoughts and suppressing negative ones.
-Recognizing and cultivating good habits and removing bad ones.
-Learning from our failures, recognizing that suffering is the opposite of happiness.
-Identifying and welcoming positive changes and removing older, unproductive ones.
-Developing long-lasting and deep-rooted relationships based on truth, honesty and respect.
The late Sai Baba, the renowned Indian guru, mystic, spiritual figure and educator, describes Happiness as actually being natural to human beings. He is quoted as saying that “Since our beings consist of consciousness-energy, the nature of which is well-being, happiness is our nature. We don’t need good fortune or any new circumstances to be happy, and we don’t need material goods, fun activities or success or power. It’s possible for us just to be happy, without any reason at all, because happiness is just there, inside us, in the same way that the sky and the air are outside us.”
The well known phrase contained in the U.S. Declaration of Independence as an unalienable right, “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” is considered to be one of the most powerful and influential statements in the English Language and has served to underline the caliber and quality of the original framers. Unfortunately, as a society we have failed to live up to the advice and expectations of these great leaders. Instead of choosing the path to happiness as one that encompasses a meaningful life, utilizing your strengths and abilities in assisting others, and living with purpose and compassion, we chose to measure our happiness by our conquests, our successes and our material status.
It is a crying shame that our present-day society beset by useless and expensive wars, openly manipulated by greedy business leaders and governed by selfish and self-directed politicians, has lost the fundamental meaning of true happiness. Instead, we have succeeded in replacing this noble and worthy direction by one which aims at projecting the ‘individual’ at all cost while ignoring the legitimate needs of the less fortunate masses. We have no hesitation to glorify, to the point of adoration, the successful athlete, or entertainer, or CEO, or politician, with our praise and our money, even as they engage in a whole range of unacceptable behavior designed to provide personal pleasure and self-gratification. We have replaced the selfless happiness of Buddha and Aristotle with the cult of Individualism. We have sacrificed the true joy of Happiness on the altar of Persons and Personality as we are persuaded that “only wealth can buy happiness”. And we have done all this in the name of progress!
But true happiness should not ever be measured on a yardstick of personal gain, or wealth, or popularity, nor for that matter should it be arbitrarily assumed for services rendered. Happiness is a state of being, a feeling of inner peace and acceptance that combines a whole range of attitudes and expectations. It is a very personal experience and cannot be transferred or exchanged. In this respective it is absolute, in that there can be no ‘relative happiness’ and you cannot share happiness of others unless it becomes assimilated within you. In every respect, I believe happiness is a choice that we each have the option to choose or to reject. It really depends on our willingness to look deeply into our own souls and to determine our own needs and purpose in life and our willingness to choose our happiness.
It is sometimes difficult to understand why others can be so happy even though they function under conditions which we may regard as unacceptable. Consider the example of Mary, a middle aged lady whose life read like a series of disasters that included a life of drug and sex abuse, rejecting religion, dealing with the occult, living in the streets and losing her only son as a young adult, until she found faith and religion. Yet if you were to meet her, you will not fail to recognize a deep seated happiness and love radiating from her and in every word she utters. Whenever she is asked to explain why she is so happy under these difficult circumstances, she will reply:
“Happiness does not mean that we will never get sick or have no problems or experience no difficulties. Happiness means that when we do have them, I believe we will always find that God is at our side, holding our hands and guiding us to find a solution. To me this special relationship with God is what true happiness is all about.”
Mary clearly has learnt the real meaning of happiness and I have no doubt that her faith will continue to support her for the rest of her life.
I believe that the potential for true happiness exists within each one of us and that in the majority of cases they remain buried under the debris of modern living to such an extent as to render them unattainable. In our headlong drive to conform to, and live like our neighbors, we have lost sight of our unique ability to be ourselves, to make choices for ourselves and above all, to recognize the wisdom of the great Greek philosopher Aristotle, who recorded:

“Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life,
the whole aim and end of human existence.”



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“In Buddhism, True happiness is called Riyaku Sesshua Fusha

"Riyaku" means peace, satisfaction and joy which refer as happiness.

"Sesshu" means embraced firmly and satisfied completely.

"Fusha" means never forsaken and changed.”
…..Buddhist Teaching

You may traverse the world in search of happiness,

When it is within the reach of everyman.

-A contented mind confers it all.

.....Horace

Events will take their course, it is no good of being angry at them; he is happiest who wisely turns them to the best account.
…..Euripides

The word "happiness" would lose its meaning,
If it were not balanced by sadness.
……Carl Jung

Happiness is like a butterfly which when pursued,
is always beyond your grasp;
But if you sit down quietly may alight upon you.
…….Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Happiness is like a kiss.
You must share it to enjoy it.
….Bernard Meltzer

The search for happiness,
is one of the chief sources of unhappiness.
…….Eric Hoffer

Happiness is when what you think, say, and do,

are in harmony.

.....Mahatma Gandhi

You cannot always have happiness,

but you always give happiness.

.....Author Unknown

It is a sad thing to look at happiness
only through another’s eyes
…..Marguerite Blessington

When one door of Happiness closes, another opens;
But often we look so long at the closed door,
that we do not see the one which has opened for us.
…….Helen Keller

LIFE AND REMBERING KIND DEEDS

Editor’s Note:
The following story has been around for many years and has been read by

millions of people worldwide. It has never failed to touch me with its power

and its message and to remind me of the truth of that wonderful quotation

by an anonymous author, which is still one of the most repeated statements

in any language:
“We will not be remembered by our words;
But by our kind deeds.”
It is being reproduced entirely in its original form in the hope that others will

have the opportunity to derive as much pleasure and satisfaction as I have

obtained, and perhaps learn, as I did, the true meaning of human kindness:

During the waning years of the depression in a small south eastern Idaho community, I used to stop by Mr. Miller's roadside stand for farm-fresh produce as the season made it available. Food and money were still extremely scarce and bartering was used, extensively.
One particular day Mr. Miller was bagging some early potatoes for me. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily appraising a basket of freshly picked green peas. I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller and the ragged boy next to me.

"Hello Barry, how are you today?"

"H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas ......sure look good."

"They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?"

"Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time."

"Good. Anything I can help you with?"

"No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas."

"Would you like to take some home?"

"No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with."

"Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?"

"All I got's my prize marble here."

"Is that right? Let me see it."

“Here 'tis. She's a dandy."

"I can see that. Hmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?"

"Not 'zackley .....but, almost."

"Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble."

"Sure will. Thanks, Mr. Miller."

Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said:

"There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, perhaps."

I left the stand, smiling to myself, impressed with this man.
A short time later I moved to Utah but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys and their bartering. Several years went by each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died.
They were having his viewing that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon our arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could. Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts ...very professional looking.
They approached Mrs. Miller, standing smiling and composed, by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary, awkwardly, wiping his eyes.
Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and mentioned the story she had told me about the marbles. Eyes glistening she took my hand and led me to the casket.
"Those three young men, that just left, were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size... they came to pay their debt. We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world, but, right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho."

With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband.

………Resting underneath were three, magnificently shiny, red marbles.