The hermit's Christmas

"The Hermit's Christmas" by David De Forest Burrell is a story that brings together a reclusive man and a variety of people seeking shelter on Christmas Day. The tale is set in a faraway place and focuses on ideas like belief, forgiveness, and the real point of Christmas. As the hermit, named Theodore, talks with a tired knight and a few other guests, like a poor man and a sad scholar, he points out what is missing from their lives and nudges them toward realizing that happiness comes from helping others and from faith. The story reveals each person's internal conflicts and what has caused them to lose the joy of Christmas. By the end, the encounters change everyone so they all promise to go back into the world feeling more thankful and caring.