Santa on Santa Monica
“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”
1 Peter 4:8
December is a confusing time for Episcopalians. We are meant to honor the season of Advent with four weeks of preparation. Then and only then, are we allowed to put up the tree, sing carols, and live into the true Christmas season beginning on December 25. In reality, the secular Christmas season is often underway after Halloween, and while carols play on the radio, we are left wondering, are we wrong to share in the holiday cheer?
In almost any other year I would encourage a strict adherence to Advent devotions and practice, but this is 2020. After a day of giving presents from our Angel Tree donations, I stood with a certain All Saints’ staff member dressed as Santa Claus. We walked out to Santa Monica Blvd.,and began to simply waive. We watched as car after car honked, waived, and even pulled over to say hello to good ole St. Nick.
The joy shared by this simple act had today’s verse ringing in my head. Yes, Santa does not fit into the Advent Season. Yet in a time in which even the smallest gift is so appreciated, perhaps just this once, we all might let Christmas come early, spreading the gift of God’s love and cheer to the world. Even if that just means meeting Santa, on Santa Monica.
-Reverend Michael Sahdev