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Columnist Anna Quindlen wrote years ago in The New York Times about a boy named Christopher who believed in Santa. "Christopher's story is the story of our lives, too," she said, "the story of how human beings come to hold on to something soothing and at once wonderful," even though it's imagined or false.Quindlen also recounted how Christopher's older brother hit him with the cold facts: "Look, stupid: chimney, fat guy, reindeer, nonsense!"There will always be the cynics and unbelievers, just as there will always be parents who exploit the Santa myth to manipulate their kids and kids who milk it for the big payoff on Christmas morning. And sadly, there will still be false Santas who turn away handicapped children.Christopher replied to his brother, "I still hear bells at night."My sons laugh when I ask them if they feel robbed having grown up without Santa. But that doesn't mean they don't hear bells on the night when all the love in the world came together in a powerful explosion. A kind fourth-century bishop heard the bells, too, and emulated that love and power. It makes perfect sense that this would inspire a myth. We all hear those bells at night, or long to.

Wendy Murray Zobais a senior writer for CT. For more information about Friends of Disabled Adults and Children, call (770) 491-9014 or visit www.fodac.org .Photography by Glenn Bewley

Don't miss Christianity Today's related story, " The Evolution of St. Nick | Tracing the roots of Santa Claus to the early church."Visit the Friends of Disabled Adults and Children homepage.More about FODAC is available from AccessAtlanta. Read more about Butchart in Christianity Today's sister magazine, Christian Reader.Order Butchart's Red Suit Diaries or learn more about "Mrs. Claus" at Butchart's Web site .Christianity Today's previous Christmas stories include:CT Classic: C.S. Lewis on Christmas | Lewis summed up Christmas in one sentence: 'The Son of God became a man to enable men to become the sons of God.' (Dec. 23, 2000) CT Classic: Bethlehem on a Budget | Planning a church budget and the Christmas story share surprising similarities (Dec. 23, 1999) Christ Is Born, Let Us Keep the Feast and Leap Before Him | A 1,619-year-old Christmas sermon reminds us why we celebrate. (Dec. 23, 1999) Is Christmas Pagan? | Christians found ways to redeem local cultures and salvage those elements that naturally pointed to Christ. (Dec. 6, 1999) CT Classic: Christmas and the Modern Jew | Christians often seem to lack both good missionary strategies toward Jews and sensitivity to their situation in life. (Dec. 3, 1999) Giftwrapping God | Our Christmas celebrations try to hide the nakedness of the Incarnation. (Dec. 8, 1997) Christmas Unplugged | Why spending less and turning off TV should be part of the church's mission to the world. (Dec. 9, 1996)

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December 4 2000, Vol. 44, No. 14