Life in the Big City

It was a chilly evening in a bustling city. Not the kind of place you would expect a miracle to unfold. See the small apartment complex in a poor neighborhood; refurbished but still with traces of its old charm. The kind of place where the streetlights flicker a little, the coffee shops are always packed, and everyone is hustling to get ahead.

Mary is a graphic designer; freelance, self-employed, always hustling to meet deadlines and post her inspirational quotes on Instagram. Her home is minimalistic, clean, with a soft beige aesthetic, and a few potted plants scattered about. She is pregnant with her first baby, and she had really been hoping for a little more space by now. But the apartment market in this city? Overpriced and competitive! They were lucky they found this spot.

Joe is a carpenter; eco-conscious, skilled with his hands, and an avid DIY-er. He has built a few projects for friends, and lately, he has been trying his hand at crafting furniture from reclaimed wood.

Joe has been a bit stressed lately. Between working odd hours to get some extra cash and trying to prepare the apartment for a baby, he has not had time for much else. But he is a quiet, solid guy and he is determined to make things work.

 It is a Thursday night when Mary goes into labor. The room is warm, but the Wi-Fi is down (which, in a way, turns out to be a blessing). Joe’s phone is on low battery, and he is frantically searching through YouTube videos on “how to deliver a baby in an apartment.” There’s no time for that, though.

Mary, calm but exhausted, leans back against the couch and whispers, “I think it’s time.” And just like that, the baby starts to arrive.

Joe looks around the small apartment. "I can’t believe this is happening here. Of all places!" he says, half in disbelief, half in disappointment. He runs to grab a towel, and by the time he turns around, Baby J is born into the world, peaceful and calm.

As the night goes on, a few unexpected visitors arrive. First, the local baristas.

A group of Mary’s friends, who work at the local coffee shop, have been texting her all evening, asking if she is okay. They had heard the news and decided to stop by, bringing warm coffee and pastries for the new parents. “We thought you might need a pick-me-up,” one of them says, setting down a tray of freshly brewed lattes and a box of croissants.

They sit on the floor, offering Mary some of the coffee and taking turns holding Baby J. They are not experts, but they know how to bring comfort.

Next, the local entrepreneurs: three local business owners, two of whom had met Joseph on a carpentry project and one who was a longtime friend of Mary, arrive, each carrying something they believe will help the family in the future: a handmade quilt from a local artisan, a voucher for groceries from a nearby organic market, and a small savings bond for Baby J, a gesture to help him in whatever endeavors he might pursue someday.

As Mary cradles her child, she looks at Joe, and they both understand something deeper than words can express. The world is broken. People are searching for meaning, for peace, for hope, and Baby J is the answer, even if they do not fully understand it yet.

In the quiet of the apartment, something shifts in the air. There is no loud proclamation, no thunderous voice from the heavens. But it is as if the room itself breathes differently. The presence of Baby J holds more weight than they realize. This child will change everything.

The world outside the apartment is full of noise, confusion, and division. People are chasing after things that will not satisfy, fighting battles that lead nowhere, carrying burdens too heavy to bear. But Baby J has come to make all things new. He has come to show the way, through love, humility, and sacrifice. He is not here to be a distant king or a remote figure in a palace. He is here to walk with us, to guide us, to heal the broken places.

Joseph looks at Mary and says softly, “I think it’s only just beginning.”

Did they know that this tiny, humble birth would turn the world upside down?

Did they know their baby boy would challenge the powers that be, turn expectations on their heads, and bring about a kingdom of peace and justice?

Did they know this child, born in an ordinary apartment, would grow up to offer forgiveness to those who least expected it, comfort the outcast, challenge the oppressors, and, ultimately, offer His life for the redemption of the world?

"The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world." John 1:9 ESV

Did the know? Did they truly understand?

As Baby J begins to stir in Mary’s arms, the room feels still for a moment. A quiet certainty fills the air: The world will never be the same with the birth of this baby.

Jesus Christ, would heal, He would teach, He would challenge. He offered hope, not just for one time or one place, but for all people, everywhere.

And though the world is broken, He is the light that came into the darkness. And that light, however quietly it began, will never be extinguished.

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." John 1:5 ESV

by Jeanette Stark  - Monday, December 23, 2024