Inspiration is one of the last things most people expect to find when they walk into a post office. But a few minutes in a small post office in Norway turned out to be one of the most inspirational parts of my year. This tiny building may not be on the world roster of holy places, but what it represents is sacred ground by almost any measure.
This spring I found myself in the charming town of Drøbak, Norway. I had heard of the place from a stylish Norwegian friend who spent summers there when she was a little girl, but I wasn’t aware of its global claims to fame. It is the place where many people around the world believe that Santa (or the Norwegian iteration, Julenissen) lives, manages his worldwide operations, and communicates to the world. It turns out that the little post office in Drobak receives a large portion of the mail that children address to Santa Claus.
I always knew that there were a few hubs where people could communicate with Santa. The UN helps manages the postal network, groups of post offices in America collaborate, a town called Santa Claus in the U.S. receives and processes thousands of letters, Macy’s will allow you to drop off a child’s wish-list in their stores, and even NORAD has gotten into the mix as it tracks Santa’s path across the sky on Christmas Eve. As a parent, I appreciate these efforts and have always been grateful for those who realize the value in helping children believe in something that is greater than themselves, and for parents who help channel that belief into a desire to improve themselves and help others around them. And when my own kids are being downright naughty, I fully confess to using Santa’s visit as a powerful (and often desperate) negotiating tool.
The little post office in Drøbak decided to line its walls with the letters that it receives from children around the world- letters addressed to Santa. I could not think of a more powerful testament to what binds us all as human beings. As I walked into the backroom of the post office, I had the chance to read letters from Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. They were as varied as their postmarks, but revealed an important common theme. The children who wrote these simple, bold letters often included requests for someone else, and many asked for peace. I have written letters to Santa, and know that they were filled with anticipation and hope. I was humbled to find so many of them including pleas for children around the world, for happiness and for health.
It’s easy to let cynicism take over your view of the world, especially during the holiday season when much of the world is more concerned about packages and parking than peace. The headlines of our day can be rough, and we humans are less than perfect. But a 25×30 foot backroom of a little post office Norway proves that we all start our lives filled with an ability to believe and a desire to help someone live a better life.
I’ve visited temples, synagogues and mosques around the world. But I will always consider the Drøbak post office, and the faith and goodwill that lines its walls, to be sacred ground.