As a child, Lynn Currie believed wholeheartedly in Santa Claus. Not the playful “everyone’s in on it” kind of belief, but a sincere trust in the jolly man in the red suit who could somehow travel the globe in one night delivering presents. Every Christmas morning brought proof: tags labeled “From Santa,” crumbs left from cookies, and a half-empty glass of milk.
Then came the day that changed it.
While spending time with his cousins, they laughed and asked, “You still believe in Santa?!” The words landed like a punch. It wasn’t just embarrassment; it was the realization that something he had trusted might not be real.
Later, his parents explained they never meant to hurt him. They had simply wanted to share the joy of a beloved tradition. But for a young boy, the moment wasn’t just about presents, it was about trust, and how fragile it can feel when it’s shaken.
Looking back, that Santa moment became one of Lynn’s earliest lessons about belief. People often hold on to certain ideas because they bring comfort, or because they trust the source. Sometimes, those beliefs fall away, not because they were meaningless, but because understanding changes. Disappointment can follow. But so can a new kind of belief, one that’s chosen consciously, tested by experience, and often stronger than before.
The Santa story may seem far removed from faith, but both touch on the nature of belief, trusting in something unseen. The difference is profound: Santa Claus is a cultural tradition, a joyful story designed for childhood wonder. God, however, is the center of a lifelong spiritual relationship.
Still, the way people process belief, doubt, and trust in childhood shapes how they approach deeper spiritual questions later in life. For Lynn, the Santa story was an early rehearsal for navigating those questions. Santa Claus lives in the realm of tradition, tied to family rituals, community customs, and playful imagination. Faith in God belongs to the spiritual realm, rooted in history, personal experience, and relationship.
Tradition is seasonal. Faith is enduring. Believing in Santa taught Lynn something about himself: he was willing to trust, and willing to hold on. Those qualities, when anchored in the right foundation, could sustain him for life.
Have you ever held onto a belief long after others told you to let it go?
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