Dear Father Christmas:
I haven’t written to you since I was a little girl. I know that your specialty is children and specifically bringing toys for all the good boys and girls across the globe on Christmas Eve. You’re a jolly fellow and there’s even a popular song written about you called “Jolly Old St. Nicholas.” Since you are in the “happiness” business, it occurred to me that you might be someone to ask for help with the crises we face in the world today. When I wrote to you a long time ago, my needs were small but these days, they are big.
You must have very good organizational and people skills as you have to deal with so many requests everyday. I hope you are doing some of your work by computer these days. I know you have a big workshop and lots of helpers to look over. Do you think that when you’re not so busy at the North Pole that you could involve yourself in some global work? Actually, you could fill the role of guide, teacher, and mentor. The tried and true people that we ordinary people depend on – politicians, world leaders, the UN, seem to need someone like you to help them navigate the perilous waters we find ourselves in. You may even have to teach our leaders new concepts of thinking and alternative ways of dealing with the “human situation.” Our democratic process, as it now stands, is filled with error and corruption. You may even have to set up a process to replace the present leaders.
Can you teach us how to deal with “terrorists?” (ISIS, ISIL, ISLAMIC STATE, DAESH). Although the enemies can be bombed and their chemistry mixed with the soil, new enemies come along and we bomb them again. History repeats itself. Father Christmas, is there a way to learn from history – as we haven’t learned that concept as yet.
As for poverty, Father Christmas, our thinking may have to correlate with the opposing power of wealth. How can we really think about the poor if we haven’t understood the root cause of poverty. We need your guidance, teaching, and mentorship in this too.
As for the agreements made by nations at Conferences on Climate Change, how do we stop the descending roller-coaster of self-destruction? We can’t seems to come off. We are stuck on the eerie ride as the darkness and pollution engulf us and death awaits long before this industrial infection, smoke, and smog is eliminated. At the recent Paris Conference, many countries agreed to reduce emissions – but will they keep the agreements? Again Father Christmas, can you guide, teach, and mentor us
Father Christmas, you know about the refugee crisis, and how our own country, Canada, is taking in 25,000 persons. How do people get to become refugees in the first place? What root problem/problems do we need to deal with here? What is the direction we need to move in where our thought processes are concerned? We need some leadership and direction here.
Violence is rampant all around us. Is history going to repeat itself again and again here too? What can you bring to the table with regard to this?
The problems of humankind are endless. I know that it takes a certain kind of person to involve themselves in this kind of task and this is the reason I am writing to you. You are the Father of Christmas – very well loved and popular with everyone. We only see you for a brief time once a year. Would you be willing to give this a try? It’s a hard job, I know. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Jean
NOTE
The above letter was drafted by me and sent to my brother, Ronald Janki, who provided some ideas and feedback, for which I am grateful. He is a good writer so I’m always happy to consult with him and glad for his input. The images are mostly from the store windows at the Bay in downtown Toronto. Merry Christmas!