The Inn-Keeper's Regrets

Antonia Chatson | Dec 16, 2015

One more day like today and I'm cashing 'er in! Take me an early retirement. Get me a nice little villa at En Gedi on the Dead Sea - a nice little place away from everyone - dabble my feet in the water - a little sailing and surfing on the side. Sounds good, right about now.

Maybe tomorrow ....... but definitely before next Christmas. Well, this year was particularly bad with the census and all. Danged old Augustus anyway. I personally think it was a political ploy on the part of Quirinius. After all, he wanted to be appointed for another term as governor of Syria - so why not push something new and excitingly different to make a name for himself - like another stunned census. Me - I've no time for politicking. To me - the results are set in stone before they even get started. It's quite simple really. The emperor appoints the governor for a term of office - and he does what he's told. And if he wants to be appointed for another term of office, then he does that really, really well - and bing, bam, boom, pop goes the weasel - he's in for yet another term of office.

The politicians never consider the common bloke like you - or me - who has to scramble around making up the different with all the rules and regulations, laws and legislations, that they dream up. I mean, it's me who has to find extra accommodation for all the extras that show up here in Bethlehem during the course of time that the census is being taken. And I suppose Quirinius thinks he's doing me a big favour by providing me with more business .Ha!!

Now censuses would be all well and good for Quirinius - and me - if Quirinius would be good enough to supply me with some decent hired help during the course of time that the census is being taken. Gaius, the head ostler, got himself kicked by a camel a month ago and he's still in the hospice. The other three fellas who work in the stable are not bad lads, but they're a bit like old brooms - they don't work by themselves. Ephasus, the cook, left without notice, saying that his uncle had died - I think, and Silas, our head housekeeper decided to start taking fits three days ago, so I can't count on him for too much. Why do accidents, sicknesses, births and deaths all have to center around Christmas?

Guess I feel a little out of sorts 'cause I'm left without a wife for a while. Our baby, Appia, is due to have her first baby, so the wife left for Herodium to be with her and her hubby. She was due a week ago and still no word. Why do babies have to hang on around Christmas?

Well, we were all filled up by 9:30 in the morning. Camp cots all over the show for all the extras from every town and village, highway and byway known to Roman kind. Boy, oh boy, will I be glad to see the end of this fiasco, even though it is good for business. Then, if you can believe it, there was a loud knocking at the door at l0:00 o'clock at night. Demetrius had already tucked himself in for the night, so I went to answer it myself. There was a man standing there, looking just a little shame-faced, as well he might, looking for and expecting to find accommodation at this hour of the night. How could I help him? How could anyone help him? Some people do expect a lot!

I was just shutting the door, when I noticed, in the outside glow of his torch, a woman seated on a donkey. I also noticed that she was very pregnant, like our Apphia. Looked a little like her too, the gentle tilt of her head - the slender hand resting on the neck of her donkey. It could have been our Apphia, with no place to lay her head for the night, or even to have her baby for that matter.

"Hold on a sec," I told the man, as I hastened to open wide the door. "I've got not one square cubit of space inside, but if you don't mind, you could bunk down in the stable out back."

They graciously accepted, and I led them out there and they were most content with an unused stall, which I bedded down with some straw for them. They didn't even object to keeping company with their next door neighbours, the sheep and the goats. Better 'n nothing. After I returned inside, I bethought myself to take them out some space bedding, so the straw wouldn't be so scratchy like.

Quite a pair they were. Really impressed me with their dignity and peace. Bet we weren't that calm when we were expecting Apphia's birth. Wonder how she's getting along now?

......... And then, all that happened during the course of that night! Holy Jehoshaphat! If I'd have known that the baby was actually going to be born that night....... and that He would be the great Messiah, I'd have kicked someone out of their room. I might've even given them my bed.......... And all those visitors that arrived after the baby was born - the shepherds and astrologers. If I'd known there was going to be so much company, I would have ordered in extra victuals and prepared a repast for them. The great Saviour of mankind........ born in my little old stable, and at the time, I didn't even know it.

But I guess I weren't the only one who didn't know who he was.......