FEAR NOT

By Hannah Brenchner 

Growing up, my family and I had typical holiday traditions.

We'd decorate the tree with mugs of piping hot chocolate awaiting us on tray tables.

We'd go Christmas caroling with the other kids from the neighborhood.

We'd all find our spot on the couch and tune into the essential, annual broadcast of A Charlie Brown Christmas.

I know this wasn't just a staple in our home. In the 1950s, Peanuts Comics were among the most popular in the country. People loved, and continue to love, Charlie Brown. This year makes 56 years of Charlie Brown's Christmas.

But here's what you might not know about this story:

How it came into existence. How it aired for the first time on December 9, 1965, sponsored by Coca-Cola on CBS. How half of America tuned in to watch.

What you probably don't know is that Charles Schulz, the creator of Charlie Brown, insisted that there be a driving force and purpose to this Christmas Special. It had to be about something powerful, and he wanted that "something" to be the true meaning of Christmas.

The show producers were uneasy, questioning Schulz's decision to include a biblical text in the story, but his response to their uneasiness was simply this, "If we don't do it, who will?"

If you remember the story, Charlie Brown sets out to create a Christmas pageant but ends up getting in way over his head. Everyone gets frustrated with him, and he loses sight of the purpose of the season.

In an exasperated moment, Charlie Brown cries, "Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?"

Without hesitation, his friend Linus comes forward and begins a recitation that has since been stated to be the "most magical two minutes in all of TV animation history."

Watch this 2-minute clip of Linus reading from the book. Focus, specifically, on what happens when Linus says the words, "Fear not." 

It's subtle.

You miss it if you don't know to look for it.

For the first time in his character's history, Linus releases his grip on his sacred security blanket and lets it fall to the ground.

As he introduces the audience to the hope of Jesus, he lets go of the false security he was holding tight to and begins to use both his hands to narrate the story.

Schulz would tell you this was intentional… that it was always the plan for Linus to drop his blanket when he proclaims, "Fear not."

I feel like this is a moment that needs no further explanation. It is holy in its own perfect way, and I don't want to cloak it with too many extra words.

Just this:

There is something much better to cling to than our fears this season.

There is a reason to drop the security blanket.