Hark! Can you hear it? The carol swells and jungle bells, the falling snow and Ho, ho, hos?

That's Christmas magic in the air.

(And before you tune me out, just because I used the "m" word, consider this: the kind of enchantment to which I refer has absolutely nothing to do with sorcery of any kind–unless you also consider the realm of angels taboo.)

I ask you, at what other time of year can you use the word "hark" or talk about the proliferation of celestial spirits and not be whisked away to a padded cell in a straightjacket?

That's because Christmas magic is at work–Kris Kringle, crafty elves, flying reindeer and all. I'd bet my last button on it.

Now, I realize that many people cast aside the whole Santa Claus tradition. But consider this: what other legend or myth do you know that can bring so many smiles and warm so many hearts as that of a jolly man, bound to give all he has to make children happy?

And who's to say that he DOESN'T really exist?

Sure, his work gets done because good-hearted people all over the world pitch in to help out, on this one night of wonder. But so does the work of angels. How else do you think we would ever have heard the "good news," unless someone out there wasn't "tuned in" to that celestial music?

The realm of the supernatural shows itself only to those who can suspend belief in so-called "reality" in order to focus within. For the abode of angels and elves and fairies lies much closer than you ever realized.

But very few people have the time (or the inclination) to explore it, because thinking about "things supernatural" makes them nervous, uncomfortable, apprehensive.

"Fear not," said the angel to the shepherds. The very first words out of the box: "Fear not."

"You gotta be kidding!" says they. (Of course they said that. What would YOU say?) Believing in something you can't touch or smell or see clearly can really give you the willies!

But the angel said, "Fear not. For behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." And the angel not only told those shepherds the greatest news this world has ever known, he gave them concrete signs to look for, to verify that claim. (Wouldn't you want some proof that what you were hearing/seeing/feeling was real?)

So the next time a child comes to you with a tale that you find difficult to believe, stop yourself for half a beat and consider what people thought when those shepherds told them what they had heard.

"Sure. Yeah. Right. Of course you heard angels talking. Whaddyya think, I just got off the camel yesterday?"

"Fear not. For behold…"

Children still reside closer to the angels than any of us professed "adults" do. So listen to them. They can help bridge that gap between skepticism and credibility–between cynicism and belief.

Why not let YOUR inner child out this Christmas. Go ahead–give yourself permission to "believe" and to "behold." If you can't believe in fairies and elves and Santa Claus, then at least let yourself believe that the angels watch over everything.

(And in case you didn't know it, they're absolutely thrilled when someone makes the jump from viewing reality into seeing the supernatural realm.)

Who knows, maybe this year I'll even get a glimpse of those flying reindeer!

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