WHO had the rooms near the Manager, I wonder? How many occupants did the innkeeper warn about a baby being born next to their room, “Sir, shall I change your room sir? There’s gonna be a newborn baby outside your room, and I don’t want you disturbed through the night! You know how babies are?”
“Thank you, innkeeper, please change my room!” many must have said. I wonder who finally got the room next to the stable. I wonder whether what they saw changed their lives forever. I’d like to think it did! “My God, our room is getting brighter!”
“Where’s the light coming from dear husband?” asks an occupant, “Have you forgotten to put off the lamp, and with kerosene so costly?” “No, it’s coming from the stable outside!” “It’s a fire, run!” “No dear, there’s something happening in the stable!”
And the occupants, a husband and wife must have looked and stared in amazement as shepherds came, and animals stood with respect, and a young couple watching their baby as it literally glowed from the manger which was it’s cradle. I’d like to imagine that the husband and wife, the occupants of the room next to the stable, must have changed their clothes and quietly tiptoed outside and stood in awe as Mary whispered to the wife, who the child was.
I’d like to imagine that they would have offered their room, but Joseph must have shook his head and told them that this place was comfortable enough, surprisingly. I’d like to imagine, the couple who offered their room were changed forever! But those others who tried to be in rooms as far away from the stable as possible? “What was that noise innkeeper last night?”
“Some shepherds sir, came to see the baby in the manger!” “Bah, thank you for changing my room, need to sleep then be part of these silly happenings!” Where’s your room dear reader? Has it conveniently been shifted away from the Christ child to someplace else?
Are you waiting for the noise and hullabaloo of this ‘disturbing’ season to get over, so you can get back to the peace and quiet of normal life? Or will you walk down to the manger and offer the Baby a place in your room? Because, if you do, He’ll say yes and follow you in and stay. Don’t shift rooms this season. Go down and call Him in..!
—(bobsbanter@gmail.com)
