Malicious Mischief

As published in the Natchez Democrat, December 10, 2010.

Malicious mischief. That is what the police report called the shattered car window I was seeing. Looking at the pieces scattered all around on the street and in my car’s backseat, I could only agree with the “malicious” part. I’d always considered “mischief” to be harmless and fun-loving.

What I was seeing was neither.

Someone, who was bored or frustrated with life or for some other reason, decided to knock out one of my windows on the Friday night after Thanksgiving. My husband and I were awakened by a policeman at 4:30 on Saturday morning who saw it as he was driving down our street. And that person, or persons, didn’t just knock out the window, they used a pry bar on it as to make sure the car door was dented, the paint chipped and the inside trim pieces broken.

In other words, they did it up right.

But that is all they did. They just knocked out the window. Now, in relating this story I have said many times what you’re all saying to yourselves right now, at least they didn’t take anything. I wasn’t robbed. I guess he or she or they didn’t know the car belonged to a certified public accountant and the only thing in my backseat was some material from some recent conferences I attended.

Pretty boring stuff.

No, they didn’t rob me. But since I did have to spend $700 repairing the car door and window who they actually robbed were the citizens of Natchez. That was money that wasn’t budgeted for that type of unexpected expense. Nor was it budgeted for my own Christmas. At this time of year many churches and other civic organizations sponsor families at Christmas. Families needing a helping hand to have a Christmas lunch, or pay their utilities, or put gifts under the Christmas tree for their children and other family members. I am a member of many such organizations and all have asked for their members to contribute.

So, to those that vandalized my car I say this: Seven hundred dollars could have gone a long way this Christmas season. Seven families could have gotten $100 gift cards for food from the Natchez Markets. I know a couple of families had children wanting bikes. My money could have helped with that. Or paid an elderly couple or young family’s gas bill next month when it gets so cold outside. Or purchased supplies for the Guardian Shelter or Stewpot – organizations helping others. Or any number of things. And the people that money was going to help could have been your neighbors, your friends, or your very own family.

So, no, I wasn’t robbed. But many in Natchez were.

Now, I will still contribute to these organizations as I’ve been asked to do. I just will not be able to do as much as I had planned. Because those vandals can’t rob me of my joy or steal my Christmas spirit.

I won’t let them.

Jolly Old St. Nicholas

Disclaimer: Remember, the opinions expressed in this blog are the thoughts of the writer - me - and in no way reflect anyone else's. Unless you post a comment, then those are yours.

Fox News reported this morning that the YMCA had decided Santa Claus would no longer be making the rounds at their clubs. Frosty the Snowman would.

Personally, I have nothing against Frosty. He's actually a pretty "cool" dude. But I couldn't believe that an organization with the word Christian in its title was going to pass up such a wonderful opportunity to teach children a valuable lesson.

What does God look like? Does anyone know? The Holy Spirit is represented in the Bible as both a flame and a dove, among other images. We are made in His likeness. Any representation of God would be symbolic one, wouldn't it, since we have no pictures of God, or Jesus? We only have artists' interpretations. So can't we decide what God looks like, at least to us?

I will not dispute that Christmas is way too commercialized. Won't argue that point for even an instant. But we have here a truly unique situation to try and change some of that. At least plant a seed a two.

First, Santa Claus evolved from Saint Nicholas, a real person. He was a real Greek bishop in the Catholic Church that lived centuries ago who had a penchant for secret gift-giving. He liked to leave small gifts at doorsteps or coins in the shoes the children left outside. He was a protector of children and recognized by the Church by achieving Sainthood for all the works of his life.

So, the concept of Santa Claus does have foundational roots in religion, right? Isn't Santa a person who loves children and secretly leaves them gifts once a year?

Stay with me here.

Second, many traditions in religion are symbols or remembrances of true events. I doubt anyone really believes that Jesus was actually born on December 25. But Christmas is a celebration of the event, not the date, surrounding the birth of Christ.

And who, or what, is Jesus? Jesus is a gift from God. The greatest gift. God, a "person" that no one has ever seen, giving a gift to the World.

Yes, Jesus is more than that, depending on your belief system - a Savior, the Messiah, a Healer, Teacher, the Light of the World and all the rest. But Jesus was also called a Gift.

So, why couldn't the YMCA have taken the initiative to start the children thinking of Santa Claus as just another representation of the image of God? A chance to get them to see that, like God, Santa Claus brings gifts to our lives and, by example, encourages us to give gifts to others.

Wouldn't that have been better than banning Santa Claus?

I hate the phrase "teachable moment" but that was one if I ever saw it.

Too bad they missed it.