Be like the Grinch

In 1957, theologian Ted Geisel wrote a children's story called "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."

You know the story. If you don't, you should read it, and then read it to your children.

The Grinch is a little hard to describe. He was definitely a loner. He hated the Whos down in the small town of Whoville, and he hated Christmas too. When Christmas would come near, the Grinch would fret and frown. The Whos were excited, but his hate would abound! Oops, sorry. It's too easy to think like Dr. Seuss while reading his books. But the Grinch disliked the happiness and joy the Whos expressed when Christmas came 'round. He hated Christmas and its discordant sounds!

The Grinch decided to stop Christmas once and for all by sneaking into Whoville and stealing all the stockings and gifts and toys and food from every house. The Grinch even lied to little Cindy Lou Who, who asked the Grinch why he was stuffing their Christmas tree up the chimney. He replied "To fix a bulb, my dear, and then I will return it right here."

And his fib fooled the child. It is a really bad thing to lie to children. They believe what they are told. In this case, the Grinch even dressed up like Santa to cover his lie.

Then the Grinch stole everything from all the other houses in Whoville; he packed it all up in his sleigh and took it to the tiptop of Mount Crumpit — to dump it!

And then the Grinch stopped. He stopped and waited. He stopped and waited and listened. The Whos would have no Christmas. The Grinch had won.

If Christmas was just presents and tinsel and trappings, then the Grinch would have won. But The Grinch did not win. He ha been deceived.

And this is the whole point. The Grinch had one advantage that the America of today has lost. He recognized that he had been deceived.

But how do you convince someone they are being deceived? Last month, there were many people striving for power who were declared winners and losers. By the world's standards, this is true. Some won, and some lost. But the world is being deceived. How, you ask?

Keep your eyes open. Live your life here on earth, and see. Make the money. Gain the power. Win the elections. And, like the Grinch, think that beliefs and freedoms can be taken away.

Eventually, those in search of power in this life will be like the Grinch. Standing at the top of Mount Crumpit, listening for the cries of the vanquished. Cries that will never come. Very soon it will become apparent who depends on achieving power in this life, and this life alone.

Don't reach the end of this life and find you have been deceived about the supposed need for power and money to produce happiness. The Grinch realized the real truth, and chose to turn back. Be like the Grinch.

Steve Patton is from Cedar Rapids.

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