To tell, or not to tell
 

To tell, or not to tell
by John Fischer

Every "child" in our family visits with Santa on Christmas Eve since Christopher (28), Anne (26), and Chandler (8) were tiny. This year will be no exception.

Last year, I do not think Santa was the least bit upset with my pretty daughter on one knee, but I'm sure he could have done without Christopher and Chandler teetering on the other. Santa was indeed huffing and puffing after this visit.

We all gave a "Merry Christmas" wave to the right jolly old elf as we picked up our family portrait with a flummoxed Santa and headed out for a festive feast at our favorite restaurant. But Chandler pulled Marti back and whispered in her ear, "That was not the real Santa -- only a helper. You can tell by the boots. But don't tell Christopher or Anne. They would be brokenhearted."

Ah, the wisdom of an eight-year-old! His older brother and sister simply can't know this was not the real Santa. They would be crushed.

The cynic has to destroy belief. The literalist has to tell everything (which sometimes accomplishes the same thing). The believer trusts in the power of what he believes to stand on its own so he doesn't have to tell everything. The believer doesn't have to correct every wrong or point out every right. Knowing the answer doesn't mean you always tell it. Chandler chose not to divulge to Christopher and Anne what he knew about the Santa "helper" because it would not have served them well. In his mind, their belief was much better and would lead them to the truth.

When our children were younger, I miffed numerous attempts my wife had designed to draw them out with rhetorical questions by jumping in with the answer right away. I was like a child myself, going, "I know, I know! Pick me!" I couldn't stand the fact that I knew the answer and couldn't say it.

But people need to make their own discoveries. Don't let what you know interfere with someone else's process. They may not be ready for what you know. Besides, we don't – any one of us – make anyone see. Only God does that.

And when you see Santa this year, be sure and check out his boots. They tell the whole story.


I thought this story related well to what I feel as I share my belief about GLBT. I really like John Fisher

excellent story. do you think that if you told others what you know about glbt people that their faith would be crushed? It certainly turns everything upside down once the truth about God's love for everyone sinks in.

That's a great story! Yep. Don't trust those cheap plastic shoe covers.:)

Their faith is not crushed it just adds me to their prayer list. I will and do speak out but I choose my words and timing based on what I think can be gained for the cause of equal rights and the cause of loving others. I am not interested in an argument for the sake of an argument, if you know what I mean.
I like Johns words, "The believer trusts in the power of what he believes to stand on its own so he doesn't have to tell everything. The believer doesn't have to correct every wrong or point out every right. Knowing the answer doesn't mean you always tell it."

don't cast your pearls before swine......;)