There is a third aspect of the Incarnation that we might consider that has nothing to do with decorations or presents or Santa Claus (or any of the other cultural artifacts of secular Christmas). We can experience the joy which comes from this aspect of the Incarnation regardless of where we find ourselves or how life has been treating us. That third aspect is this: because of the Incarnation, we are destined for eternal salvation. No, not only because of the Incarnation-- there is Jesus' whole life, passion, death and resurrection. But that all starts with the Incarnation. If Jesus had not become human, none of the rest would have been possible. We would not be saved if it were not for the event we celebrate at Christmas. We would still be separated from God. We would still be stuck in sin. So as we prepare for Christmas we might remind ourselves of the whole story, the story which begins with Christ's birth (in a sense-- in a sense it begins with Adam and Eve) but certainly doesn't end there. It is a story which certainly ought to fill us with joy. It is the story of our salvation.