Anyone else just entirely creeped out by Santa Claus? I have two kids and we take them down to the mall every year to see Santa- to sit on his lap, take a quick picture and pay an exorbitant amount for them and leave. A lot of the season oddly encompasses this Santa. But the guy really creeps me out.
I love the Beach Boys, and perhaps they have the best Christmas album of all time, but every time that song Santa Claus is Coming to Town starts playing, I get totally weirded out. The lyrics are just like nails on a chalkboard:
You better watch out
You better not cry
Better not pout
I’m telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
He’s making a list
And checking it twice;
Gonna find out Who’s naughty and nice
Santa Claus is coming to town
He sees you when you’re sleeping
He knows when you’re awake
He knows if you’ve been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake!
O! You better watch out!
You better not cry
Better not pout
I’m telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town
Just key in with me here: “He sees you when you’re sleeping. He knows when you’re awake. He knows if you’ve been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake”.
Seriously, you have got to be getting chills by now. I know this is a bit far stretched, truly, I do. But the essence of what I am writing here should make us think for at least a half a minute or two. Hopefully longer.
Taking a different perspective on this now, what would it look like if this Santa guy was real (don’t mean to spoil it for you out there; sorry), and he saw everything we did, good or bad? What would our “Christmas” look like? I have to tell you- in some respects, I think I might get some pretty sweet swag for Christmas; in other respects, I would be fortunate to even get coal.
I have heard Santa, especially the Santa in this song compared to God many times (thanks to all those wonderfully illustrative preachers out there and completely misinformed people too). That in and of itself gives me chills too. But instead of focusing in on the what? of that statement, key in on the fact that God is all-knowing; omnipresent (anywhere and everywhere at the same time). And while God desires for us to do good in this world, he cares more about our relationship with Him and other people. Man, if there’s anyone who knows we have seriously screwed up and missed the mark, it’s Him. But the coolest thing is, is that He never holds it against us. That’s where the greatest gift of all, Jesus, comes in. While we were still sinners, God sent His only Son for us. ALL OF US. Forgiveness; the greatest gift of all.
So don’t be good for goodness sake this Christmas season; or ever really. Be good because that’s what has been done to you. And don’t look over your shoulder with a creepy thought that someone is watching you all the time, but rather embrace the fact that God is with you in your darkest times, and your most joyful experiences.
He came to town, and He never left.