The Inn Keeper

2:31

We don’t know much about the inn keeper in the Biblical story of the birth of Christ.  Perhaps he was only twenty, or maybe sixty-five.  He could have been crippled.  Perhaps he had more debts than money to pay them. 

We do know that on this particular night his inn was full.  All day - all day long he had handled travelers-sending his errand boy to clean yet another room for the paying customers.  Finally, he rented his last room for the night.

He had to be tired.  His feet probably hurt from standing on them all day long.  And his thoughts no doubt had long ago turned toward his supper, knowing it was cold now because of his late night hours. 

He had made his money for the night, and perhaps for the week, or month.  This census thing was good for one thing - it was good for his business, and that was all that mattered to him.

Just as he turned to snuff out the last candle there was a soft knock on his door.  He sighed heavily.  His first thought was to ignore the rap on his door.  Let them figure it out for themselves.

But something prompted him to slowly shuffle to the door, remove the security bar and open it with just a crack.  His speech was already rehearsed.  After all, he had given it about a dozen times already tonight.

“I’m sorry.  There’s just no … “

And he stopped.  The woman caught his eye first.  She was a frail thing-perhaps 14, and pregnant.  More than pregnant.  She was ripe with pregnancy. 

And the husband had a look of desperation.  He was obviously out of options.

“Is there no place we can rest for the night?”

The inn keeper sadly shook his head, and rather than speak he attempted to close the door.  Almost.

“I’m sorry, my friend.  I just rented my last available space.

The awkward silence between them spoke volumes - desperation in the traveler, and regret in the innkeeper.

As the traveler turned to leave, the inn keeper had a flash of insight, and he took pity on the couple.

“Wait.  I do have a small barn.  It’s drafty, not very warm, but it will keep most of the wind off you.  Just follow that path down to the left about a hundred paces and you’ll see it.  Push the cows aside if you need a bit of room.  That’s all I can offer you tonight.” 

And that is perhaps how it came to be that the Christ - the Son of God came to be born in a manger.  It was all that was open. 

It was enough. 

P Michael Biggs

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