Don't Be Santa, Be an Elf this Christmas Season

"I am not Santa Claus. I am only an elf.”

Odd. That was my first thought. I knew I was tired and badly in need of a caffeine fix the morning I’d curiously grabbed one of the many mugs depicting these strange words out of the cupboard from IJM’s break room. I wondered if I’d misread something.

I’d filled my mug with coffee and reread the words again. Not Santa? I’m an elf?

Hmmm. I deduced the mugs were likely leftover from some holiday event from years past and the odd slogan had been some sort of inside joke.

The mornings that followed I tried to avoid the “elf mugs”. While I didn’t dislike them, they weren’t my preference. I didn’t get the joke so for months I preferred grabbing more inspiring mugs for myself from the cupboard. Another colleague could enjoy the elf mug, I’d thought.

Fast forward to this November when the topic of our elf mugs suddenly came up during our daily 11am staff prayer at our IJM headquarters in Washington, DC.

Our founder and CEO, Gary Haugen, began by explaining the background of how the mugs came about. It seemed that one year around this same time, he’d wanted to encourage our staff not to stress or worry. While he recognized the holiday seasons were always extremely busy and hectic for nonprofits and our teams, Gary also didn’t want us to forget that ultimately God was in charge and we just needed to do our small parts. While he knew we all wanted to do as much as possible to increase our fundraising efforts and help more of the world’s poorest escape violence, he also challenged us to remember that not one of us was Santa. Together, we are God’s “elves” and we just need to do our little part, and trust Him with the rest.

I’m an elf? I was grateful I finally understood what the odd mugs meant. Yet, the first image that popped into my head after learning the meaning was Hermey, the goofy, aspiring dentist elf from the animated special “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”

The catchy tune of the misfit toys singing “I’m just a mis-fit” quickly came to mind. I started humming it silently as I’d left our staff prayer and thinking about the quirky characteristics of the elves.

Hardworking. Joyful. Selfless. Fun.

Not bad for an elf, I'd thought.

That evening, I had googled the topic of elves and their purpose. Topping my search findings were posts about the elves from “Lord of the Rings.”

Interesting, I’d thought. I’d forgotten about those elves. Instead of images of brightly colored, short elves or even Will Ferrell filling my mind, I was now envisioning the wise, skilled and courageous elves depicted by JR Tolkien. They were warriors who fought for a greater cause.

I stumbled onto an article about why Tolkien’s fans felt the elves existed in Middle Earth.

“The purpose as the Firstborn was to show Men the way….,” read one post.

“They are to live their lives honorably, truthfully and most of all, enjoy their lives,” read another.

I found these descriptions inspiring. These elves were honorable, truthful and joyful.

Being an elf was beginning to sound a lot more noble! And challenging.

I knew something had shifted in me when I returned to the break room the next morning to get my coffee.

Instead of ignoring the elf mugs, I was now intentionally looking for one. I selected the mug this time wanting a reminder to work like an elf.

I’d smiled as I returned to my desk with my coffee steaming and the words “I am only an elf” on the front of my mug.

Today, I’m gonna be an elf!

Be an ELF and bring a holiday of rescue to victims of oppression worldwide. Visit IJM's Gift Catalog.

Mindy Mizell serves as Global Public Relations Director at International Justice Mission (IJM).

International Justice Mission is a global organization that protects the poor from violence throughout the developing world. IJM partners with local authorities to rescue victims of violence, bring criminals to justice, restore survivors, and strengthen justice systems. The largest nonprofit organization of its kind, IJM combats slavery, sex trafficking, rape, police brutality, property grabbing and other forms of violence in nearly 20 communities throughout Africa, Latin America, South Asia and Southeast Asia. www.IJM.org

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