A place to lay one’s head

“…and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.” -Luke 2:7

Have you ever experienced trying to find a room for a night where you can rest after a day of traveling? During my first trip to Baguio–the summer capital of the Philppines–I went with my sister and her college friends and we didn’t have any hotel reservation. We just hopped on a bus and traveled to the highlands and sought for an inn upon our arrival.

As we arrived early in the morning, we headed to a fast food chain for breakfast and to rest for awhile since most hotels and inns are open to new guests later in the morning. We went to the Teacher’s Camp hoping to get a room in one of its cabins. But we found no luck. We tried calling other inns, but to no avail. Good thing that the local tourism office assisted us and hooked us to a travel agent who rents out rooms and houses in the city. We found the house, far from the city’s center, but was affordable and clean. It had two rooms, a living room, and a kitchen.

It wasn’t easy carrying all your bags, roaming around the city, not knowing where you’ll stay for the night. Much more for Joseph and his pregnant wife, Mary, who had been rejected and turned down by various innkeepers. One offered them a space but the only one he got was a manger, where animals live. But for that, we saw a Savior who humbled Himself to be like us. And that was how the first Christmas came about.

Sometimes, when we travel, we are not sure how the place or the locals would accept us. Most places welcome tourists because that will be a boost to their economy. But what if you’re not a tourist and you’re just looking for a place to spend the night? I have a couple-friend who recently traveled to the US for a vacation. They opted to stay with relatives and friends living in the states where they visited. Though they enjoyed their trip immensely, they felt that they were quite burdensome to their hosts.

Acceptance is one thing that human beings yearn. It is a basic need. Many scars that we carry in life are caused by rejection we experienced since our childhood.

But if we are at the other side of the fence, how accepting are we of others? Don’t we sometimes put a wall around us so that we don’t get hurt? How do we accept Christ in our lives? Is it enough to just go to church and pray to Him? Or do we die to our selves, surrendering our selfish desires, giving up worldly happiness for the sake of the Gospel?

I now stop and think of the many families affected by calamities who were left homeless. I wonder of the many children who had to stay in a gymnasium or a school because their homes where ravaged by the storm, or an earthquake or fire. I remember the families in Bantayan, Cebu who were happy to receive their emergency shelter kits because they were able to have a home once again.

Having a place where we can lay our heads and spend the night is a form of security. Yet, it is also important to secure ourselves to Christ, making sure that He has a place in our hearts where He can live and move and manifest His love for humanity.