From the 1974 TV Special, 'The Year Without Santa Claus', narrated by Shirley Booth, and produced by Arthur Rankin, Jr., and Jules Bass, Quotes: "Santa Claus: All right. What are you up to? Mrs. Santa: Up to? Do I look like I'm up to something? Santa Claus: No, you don't look like you're up to something, but whenever you look like you're not up to anything, you're up to something."

Good morning and welcome to Wednesday, September 2, 2020. Most everyone knows, due to continuing concerns about the coronavirus, the upcoming Christmas season is still pretty much an unknown at this time. We typically do a number of events as Santa and Mrs. Claus but we have pretty much been in a fixed hold until we see how things go. We did make one exception. One of our longest-term clients wants to do a program on December 5th. Mindy Harmon, typically voted the top professional photographer in our area, has worked with her staff and they have a program they believe will be flexible enough to honor the protocols while providing folks with their magical Christmas photos. This is the only commitment we've taken and like I say, we will determine yay or nay depending on conditions on the ground and how comfortable we feel about the venue. We pretty much are more than ready to sit out the entire season should that be the best way forward. The photos above were sent along with an early bird registration opportunity for her clients that will be used to fix the schedule before advertising to the general public. I have always felt very privileged to be a part of what happens each year in Mindy's studio where we strive to make joyful memories.

 

My first year as Santa was the season of 2009. Here is a flashback tidbit from the beginning of this journey. 

Chick-fil-A, 2009

~ Off and running...and loving it all! Good Tuesday morning on this December 22, 2009. Children everywhere are keeping tabs as the clock counts down to Christmas day. Last Friday it was early to work and then I was able to leave just after lunch. We were able to have a wonderful early afternoon late lunch to celebrate our 45th anniversary. We then had a party for our brand new 13-year-old, Jimmy Jr. After the smoke cleared from the birthday celebration I went into my phone booth and transformed myself into that Jolly Old Elf for a visit to our Church teenage Christmas party. We arrived there before 10 p.m. and while some of them had to be shamed a little, we ended up taking Santa photos with 42 teenagers, the sponsors, those who just happened to be there, as well as a partridge and a pear tree. We had a blast. I can't wait to see some of those snapshots. It will likely be the very last kid's Santa photo for most of these older teens.~

One thing is clear. Santa or no Santa, the real meaning of the first Christmas will be an ever-present truthful reality regardless of what is happening in our world. I think about those wise men who came from the East to find the one born King of the Jews. 

Matthew Chapter 2, Verses 

Wise Men from the East

1) Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2) saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

3) When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4) And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

5) So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:

6) ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;

For out of you shall come a Ruler

Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”

7) Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”

9) When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

12) Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

Notice verse 11, "and fell down and worshipped Him". That's always been my favorite word picture from this passage as they came in contact with, even as a young Child, the living Lord of the universe. We will be celebrating the birth of Jesus this Christmas. Amen. .....More later.