Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Write for the BIOGRAPHICAL Genre (12/04/14)
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TITLE: Well Meaning | Previous Challenge Entry
By Judith Gayle Smith-Owens Vitouswykegardinerclark
12/11/14 -
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Saint Nicholas was a real saint - a "do gooder". There are those who feel he has usurped the attention due to the Christ Child, not realizing the intent of his heart was not to glorify himself, but to promote goodwill to the suffering poor.
His title Saint/"Santa" has been rearranged to read "Satan", making St. Nicholas/Mr. Claus the object of scorn, resentment and outright loathing by those who look only upon the superficial.
Was it St. Nicholas's desire to have all the powers of God bestowed upon him? Songs glorifying Satan with lyrics suggesting omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent?
At a tender age, God Himself told St. Nicholas to give of himself, to love as he himself was loved. This is the heart of all His saints - the theme song accompaniement to life itself. St. Nicholas shared his heart, providing necessities and comfort.
Today, permanently middle-aged Santa Claus - a right jolly old fellow with crimson red cheeks, snowy white beard, red drawers is a very unlikely and unusual representation of St. Nicholas, having been drawn from the heart and art of man, rather than the heart of God. This caricature does not resemble the lean St. Nicholas physically or spiritually.
Christmas today is the season of greedy giving. St. Nicholas would be aghast at what is done in his name - and what is done in God's Name. Celebration of God's goodness in sending His Christ to be born has become a shopping madness costing more than money can purchase. It brings derision, impoverishment, greed and depression totally diverting the goodness of God to the indulgence of material gratification. God's greatness has been grievously overshadowed by man who plays the role of Santa, giving to receive, thereby stimulating the economy and perverting the truth of God's Gift to us.
St. Nicholas would not have condoned making the winter solstice the focus of Jesus's birth. No tree was found in His manger, shedding bright twinkling lights and shiny ornaments upon Him as He lay, exhausted from His journey to us through Mary's virginal womb.
St. Nicholas would be shaking his head in disbelief over the reindeer, the elves, the Christmas tree being the shrine for the gifts on the floor, the borrowing of money to satisfy the greed of the season.
There will never be a more important time to study the life of St. Nicholas to see Who was motivating his heart for God's down-trodden, and who is motivating the hearts of men today to forget Jesus' birth to celebrate self-gratification, self-aggrandizement.
This should have us on our knees, grateful for the provision placed in our hearts for emulating the goodness and greatness of God, thanking Him for his incredible Gift of Jesus, the Christ, our Messiah.
Remember Whose day is being celebrated, even if it isn't the true day of Jesus's birth. Give of yourself to the true birthday Child, give to the hurting, the lost and the powerless. Don't give to get - pour yourselves out in the love of the Christ to promote His love for His children.
Let us hear the songs praising God, and ignore reindeer crushing grandma underfoot . . .
Bingle jells.
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Well done.
God bless~
Love the pun in the last line too, even though it looked like you had wuddled your mords.
God bless~