Merry Christmas! Making room at the Inn

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What if belonging began not with being invited—but with choosing to open the door? Some journeys change how you travel forever—because they change how you understand the story.

Lighting the Way: Making Room at the Inn

One of my favorite traditions of growing up in Mexico City is “Las Posadas”. Joining my neighbors and family and friends. For each of the 12^th nights before Christmas, taking turns hosting a Posada – the inn or shelter-. People carry candles that light the way and someone holding Joseph and Mary figurines, leads the singing group of peregrinos (pilgrims) from house to house. Once the “peregrinos” finish their travel and find the inn, the pilgrims and the hosts go back and forth singing until the host representing the inn keeper, lets them in. Then the party begins! With amazing food, music and pinatas filled with winter fruits and Christmas candy.

I think that we are all peregrinos, holding our candles to light the way for each other and for others around us. We are on a journey to find our destination, to find “room at the Inn”. I think of the how hard it is for individuals with autism to find “room” at the “inn”- the groups at schools, the groups at church, the groups where they can find social interactions. Finding friends is hard, finding people that are willing to make room at the “inn” is hard. What can we do? How about instead of expecting others to come to us, we can come to them, we can invite them, we can be the ones to take the first step.

I invite you to keep shinning your light, to keep sharing and loving others along the journey, especially those that  need extra light at this time of the year. Many celebrate, but many among us will be missing loved one who have finished their journey here on earth. Shine as bright as the star that led the Wise Man to find baby Jesus

Bethlehem and Beyond: Walking the Christmas Story

Growing up, did you ever wonder if mystical places like Atlantis or the North Pole really existed—and if one day you might actually go there? I wondered that myself. For me, there was another legendary place I often wondered about: the little town of Bethlehem.

Today, I want to share a little more about what it meant to finally visit some of these extraordinary places.

Bethlehem

I was so excited to visit the town we hear about in Christmas songs year after year. As we got closer, our bus slowed down—and suddenly there it was: a massive wall separating Bethlehem from Jerusalem. I learned that Bethlehem is located in the West Bank, just six miles south of Jerusalem. It is one of the most complex and controversial regions in the world.

Driving through the gates of this small, walled city filled my heart with reverence. The buildings felt ancient. And there I was—standing where the Christmas story began. It wasn’t the tourist sites that moved me most; it was the feeling of biblical stories unfolding and coming to life before my eyes.

Shepherd’s Field

Yes—we visited a shepherd’s field. We even met a young shepherd boy tending his sheep. This quiet hillside is traditionally associated with the angels’ announcement to the shepherds. We also visited a cave—once used to shelter animals—which felt much closer to what I had always imagined the "stable" would be like. Standing there made the nativity story feel tangible and real.

Olive Wood Shops

One of my favorite stops was a small olive wood shop where everything is hand-carved. Skilled artisans turn olive wood into beautiful nativity scenes and ornaments. The craftsmanship is remarkable, and the more intricate the detail, the higher the price. Of all the nativity sets I’ve collected over the years, my Bethlehem nativity is my favorite—not just for its beauty, but because it carries the memory of being there. After all, it’s all about gathering memories, right?

Other Significant Places in Jerusalem

• Temple Mount
  A large elevated platform that has been sacred for centuries. It remains a central place of worship and history, known for its vast scale and deep significance.

• Dome of the Rock
  A striking gold-domed shrine built over a sacred rock, admired for its blue tilework, geometric design, and spiritual importance.

• Old City
  A walled area divided into four quarters, filled with narrow streets, bustling markets, and layers of sacred history from multiple faiths.

After visiting so many remarkable places around Jerusalem—including Bethlehem—I realized that none of them would hold the same meaning without what happened at the next sites.

The Most Solemn Sites

• Via Dolorosa
  The path through the Old City marking the route Jesus is believed to have taken to His crucifixion.

• Gethsemane
  An olive grove at the base of the Mount of Olives, associated with Christ’s prayer and suffering. Some of the olive trees here are centuries old, potentially dating back over 2000 years ago.

• Golgotha
  The traditional site of the crucifixion, located within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where the rock beneath can still be seen.

• Garden Tomb
  A peaceful garden outside the Old City walls containing a rock-cut tomb believed by some to resemble the burial site described in scripture. The atmosphere here is quiet and deeply reflective.

This was our final stop on the entire trip. And for me, this is where Christmas truly began—not with the manger, but with the miracle that followed. A miracle that represents hope, redemption, and an endless beginning for mankind.

A Masterpiece in Progress

A while back, I watched a video where the speaker Emily Freeman shared a quote from Michelangelo, the famous sculptor:
“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.”

How incredible to think that a solid block of marble could become a masterpiece—one careful chisel at a time.

Emily then shared a story from her visit to the Holy Land. While there, she visited an olive wood shop known for some of the finest carvings in Israel. She was invited downstairs into the workshop, where the real work happened. As she looked around, her eyes were drawn to an “unfinished” angel. It had shape and form, but it lacked the intricate details of the finished pieces upstairs. It was still waiting to be completed by the master’s hands.

Emily wanted to buy that unfinished angel, but the shop owner tried to explain that it wasn’t ready yet. Still, something about it called to her. Even without the final details, she could see its potential. She had already seen the finished masterpieces upstairs—and she knew this angel was no different. It was unfinished, yes—but it was still an angel. A work in progress.

Behind the shop, Emily also noticed large chunks of olive wood piled outdoors, exposed to the weather. The owner explained that the wood must endure the elements—sun, wind, rain—before it is ready. From there, it moves through each stage: cutting, carving, sanding, detailing, until finally it reaches the master’s station, where the finishing touches transform it into a complete masterpiece.

I later shared this video with a group of moms raising children with autism, and it stayed with me.

Parents and caregivers weather many storms. We move through stages we never expected—often feeling exposed, unsure, and tired. And yet, there is purpose in every phase of the process.

Some people may look at individuals with autism and see only the “unfinished” angel. But others—those who choose to look deeper—see the masterpiece already present. Because individuals with autism are not incomplete or lacking. They are gifted, brilliant, and whole—still growing, still becoming, but already fully who they are meant to be.

What moved me most about this story is this truth:
The angel was never unfinished in its identity—only in its process.

And the same is true for our children, our loved ones, and even ourselves.

So here is my invitation to you:
See the angel.
Honor the process.
Speak hope where others see limitations.

When the journey feels heavy, remember—you are not walking it alone.

Let’s continue to thrive together by choosing patience over pressure, compassion over comparison, and belief over fear. Let’s be the people who make room, who see potential, and who create spaces where every individual is valued exactly as they are.

If this message resonated with you, consider sharing it with another parent or caregiver who may need encouragement today. And if you’re not already part of our community, stay connected with The Autism Passport as we continue walking this journey—together.

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