Room at the inn ...

A work conference took me to Chicago. Lewis Grizzard's famous statement about Chicago still holds true: "In Chicago, there are two seasons: winter and the Fourth of July." When I landed at O'Hare, it was 17 degrees. My thin Florida blood was in revolt.

Thankfully, the conference was indoors, and I only had to endure a few minutes of breath-taking cold walking to the rental car and walking into the building where the conference was held. The first day's session wrapped up at 7:30 p.m. CST, and the fatigue was starting to hit hard. Thankfully, the hotel was close. A brief walk back to the rental car, a five-minute drive and then a dash into the hotel lobby. A warm bed and good night's sleep were moments away.

I walked confidently to the registration desk. I told the woman behind the counter my name and handed her my driver's license and credit card. That's when the trouble began.

With a last name of Smith and a first name of William (which I never use. If my phone rings and they ask for William, I know it's a telemarketer), I'm accustomed to not being unique. There is even another Baptist preacher named Clay Smith. He worked at our church for a time. Everyone assumed he was my son, which he wasn't. Folks said he looked a lot like Matt Damon, so I can understand why people thought we were related.

The desk clerk scrolled through the names and began to get a puzzled look on her face. She said, "My records show you checked in last night." I assured her the night before I had slept in my own bed. I thought about calling my wife to verify my whereabouts. After a minute or two, she said, "Oh, I'm sorry. That was a different William Smith." Must be a long-lost cousin.

By this time, a line was forming behind me as the other clerk struggled to keep up. I pulled up my confirmation number, hoping that would help. She located my room, but then had a puzzled look on her face. I don't know what her computer screen was showing, but she called a colleague over and said, "Look at this. How do we handle this?"

I started to worry I was on some list that prevented me from staying at a mid-level hotel. I was pretty sure I'd had all my shots, and I wasn't on the "no-fly" list. The two clerks now were going from one computer terminal to another. One would say, "Did you try F4?" The other would answer, "Yes, but it still isn't taking it."

It's an odd feeling when people talk about you and you are right there. I wanted to tell them I was born in this country, had good credit and had seen my dentist in the last six months. I heard a man behind me say, "How much longer is this going to take?" I wondered the same thing. I was beginning to think I might have to spend the night in the lobby.

Finally, the woman hit some magical key combination and said "Whew!" She asked me how many room keys I needed, and I told her one, preferably one that worked. She apologized for the delay and handed me my key. A short elevator ride, a walk down a long hallway, and finally I was in my place of rest, safely ensconced against the harsh Chicago cold.

Of course, there was never any real threat of being stuck out in the cold. After all, there are a lot of hotels in Chicago, and I had a credit card and a set of car keys.

Long ago there was another set of travelers who needed a place to stay. We don't know if they were trying to rent space, or if some relative of Joseph had pity on them and let the poor couple stay in the space were the animals were kept. All we really know is that when the King of Kings and Lord of Lords was born, he was wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in a manger.

I have a hunch that if the people in Bethlehem knew who this baby was, they would have made room for him in the house. But we know who he is, and most of us don't make room for him in our lives. How do you make room for him? Be still and know he is God. Love one another as he has loved us. Whatever we do for the least of these, it's like doing it for him.

It's Christmas. Welcome Jesus into the warmth of your heart. If your heart is cold, ask him to warm you up. His love can do that and change you forever.

The Rev. Dr. Clay Smith is the lead pastor of Alice Drive Baptist Church in Sumter.