Seeing is believing, or so the saying goes. This is the holiday season, and it is not possible to get through it without thinking about or seeing Santa Claus -- or should I say Santa Clauses. They are everywhere. And while we have all seen those who portray him time and time again, nobody has ever seen the real Santa because there isn't one. Just as nobody has ever seen the real Rudolph, the real Easter Bunny or the real Snoopy. And yet, everybody knows who they are and recognizes them in a minute.
History is full of personalities that are real as well as those that are only figments of our imagination. I find it interesting to think that I can picture all of these imaginary figures but very few of those who are actual historical realities. I would not be able to recognize even one of the 12 disciples in person even though I know they were real men. I am not even sure I would recognize Jesus since there are as many illustrations as there are illustrators, but perhaps if I looked in His eyes I would know who He was.
It is interesting to ponder on the difference between reality and make-believe, especially when it depends upon what others tell us. Jesus lived long before the Bible was written, and that had to have had an impact on how accurate it is. Information passed on from generation to generation can suffer from the same errors as that passed around the table when children play the "pass it on" game.
While sitting around a table, a sentence is shared with the next person, who passes it onto the next. By the time the last person repeats it to the one who started it, it is seldom the same information told in the original way.
Life is like that. What we read in the Bible may not be as accurate as what originally transpired since it is the product of time. But certainly the general idea is there for us to follow.
Going back to my original thought, if I cannot see Him, does God really exist? For me, the answer is yes. Obviously, I cannot see God, but He is real for me. Just like Santa, the Easter Bunny and the Good Fairy were real for me when I was a small child.
How do I know God is there? It is in the power of prayer because so many of my prayers have been answered. I listen to others who have been blessed time and time again. I listen to my pastor on Sunday morning sharing thoughts about how to be a better Christian, and I know in my heart that this is what God wants me to be. He is there for you and for me, always. I don't need to see Him to know He is. That comes through loud and clear each time He touches my life or that of those I love. I am blessed beyond belief whether I can see Him or not.
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Burgess moved to Bella Vista in 1995. She considers each day a gift -- although some are more fun to open than others. The opinions expressed in this column don't necessarily reflect the views of the newspaper.
Religion on 12/17/2014