Any inn-terest in Jesus' birth?

Any inn-terest in Jesus' birth?

   Here we are amid Advent, the preparation time for Christmas.  I wonder what will it take for me to get into the Christmas spirit.  Will I make reoom in my preparations and celebrations for Jesus?
   Two thousand+ years ago there wasn't any room at the inn for Mary and Joseph to prepare for Jesus' coming.  Yet here I am, all these years have passed and the predicament is still the same.
   My wife and children try so hard to get me into the Christmas spirit.  In my attempt to avoid the materialistic mindset, I also make it hard to enjoy the fullness of the season.
   When I settle for celebrating Christmas on a single day, then the joy is minimized.  It is actually a two-part season -- Advent and Christmas.  What we remember is the coming of Jesus two-thousand+ years ago, but what we are celebrating is a continuous occurance, as long as we open the door.  Then it continues through the Baptism of The Lord Sunday (Jan. 9th, 2011).
   I should not wait until Christmas Day (or Eve) to bring Jesus into preparations and celebrations.  It must begin now if it is to have any significance.  I have to make the room in those preparations and celebrations, and in the rest of my life so there is a place for Jesus' presence.
   How much room do You need Lord?  Jesus will take as much room as I am willing to offer.  Even if the start is small like a few minutes of regular prayer, a daily ritual around the Advent wreath, extra Masses, or spending time in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, these are great foundations to build on.
   As in any relationship the closeness, communication and spending time with the other person(s) are key factors.  That is developing inn-timacy.  God wants so much to have a close, personal relationship with each of us.
   We could be very creative in our preparation, even on the verge of Advent-urous.  How do you make your celebration special?
   One of the ways that will be special for me is rediscovering Christmas through child-like viewpoints -- including those of my 8 and 15 year old boys.  The wonder and awe that can be part of the Christmas experience are great blessings.  I look forward to show and be shown the JOY TO THE WORLD that awaits us all.
   The gift of this Christmas should not be in the presents, rather make it in the Real Presence (of Jesus).  It is up to each of us to do our part to include Jesus in the fullness of the Advent and Christmas seasons.  Yes, we will be the ones who inn-vite our Lord to be part of the celebrations.  Are you inn-terested?