good words.

This is a picture of my sociology professor, and today was his last day teaching at St. Olaf. A few of my friends from the class and I planned him a little surprise party, and he walked into the room and started crying. He then, of course, launched into one of his best little speeches yet.

“I stopped believing in Santa when I was five,” he said. “And then when I was 50, I started collecting money for tribal villages in Thailand. And then my wife and I started buying toys for the poor kids right here in Northfield. Now, because of that, we are building the largest performing arts center for the disabled in the world. Do you know why? Because of Santa. What did W.I. Thomas say, everybody?”

If you define something as real, it becomes real in its consequences.

“Exactly!” continued Mike. “Miracles do happen. Every day. And you can make those miracles happen if you just believe. Years from now, when you’re telling your children and your grandchildren about St. Olaf, you can tell them that you had Santa Claus for a teacher, and it will be the truth. You have the power to make miracles happen too, with the connections you make with other human beings every day. You are incredible people. You can make miracles happen.”