Some Thoughts about Spirituality
I have recently been reading the story of Joseph from the book of Genesis in the Christian Old Testament and Jewish Torah. Joseph's story could be a textbook example of unfairness. Joseph is a good person. He does the right things. Nevertheless, his brothers become jealous of what they see as their father favoring him and they hatch a plot to get rid of him. They sell him into slavery and he winds up in Egypt. He actually ends up earning great esteem in Pharaoh's court, but Pharaoh's wife wants to sleep with him. When Joseph refuses day after day, she eventually hatches a plot to discredit him and have him thrown into prison. Joseph was the model of virtue and respect and he unfairly lands in the dungeon. He ends up winning over the guards and the prisoners and is given a high place in the prison. He interprets a dream favorably for Pharaoh's cup bearer who is restored to his place of honor and we finally think Joseph is going to get what he deserves-restoration to his former position! However, the cup bearer forgets all about Joseph and what he's done. I can't imagine how easy it would have been for Joseph to just give up and say, "life is just unfair" and curse God for abandoning him yet again. But that's not how his story goes. After a while, Pharaoh also has a dream and the cup bearer FINALLY remembers Joseph. He is brought from the dungeon and interprets Pharaoh's dream. Pharaoh gives him his signet ring (a sign of authority) to wear and puts Joseph in charge of the storage and distribution of all the food in Egypt during the upcoming seven years of abundance and famine. He gets the chance to save the Egyptians (and his own family) from starvation!
Joseph never let his unfair situation prevent him from being the best person he could be. He gave his all and lived with integrity no matter where he found himself. He always seemed to remember that he wasn't alone, even when it appeared at first glance that he had been abandoned. If Joseph believed his story ended with his brothers' betrayal or Pharaoh's wife's betrayal or the cup bearer's betrayal, he never would have gotten to the part of his story where his suffering is redeemed. Through Joseph's perseverance, we begin to see how holding our heads up during the unfair moments in life could lead us to discover who we were truly meant to be. I want to encourage all of us to try to see the bigger picture in times when life feels unfair. Yes, feel and express the anger and frustration if it's there, and, if the unfair situation is systemic, work with others to end the injustice, but we shouldn't allow "victim of unfairness" to become our whole story and define how we see ourselves.
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Over the last two days, I have watched, helplessly, as news from my friends and loved ones in Houston have rolled in through Facebook and texts. I have felt overwhelmed by the enormity of the suffering and loss in my former home, both by those I know and those I don't. I am particularly concerned about the most vulnerable populations, including the large group of homeless youth who attend weekly dinners at our former church. Have they gotten to safety? These situations also remind me of my frustration with current government policies that ignore the reality of the changing global environment that makes intense storms like Harvey more common. In the face of this devastation, I try to be less anxious. I pray and petition. I read sacred texts. Yet still, I find myself focused on the negative, enveloped in destruction.
Tonight I remembered a Thich Naht Hahn quote: "The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it." I am going to challenge myself to be attentive. I know I have not been. I can be attentive to friends who are performing emergency services on little rest-the selflessness of these loving acts, not the dire need it represents. I can be attentive to stories of neighbors using social media to connect loved ones who are missing-the compassion of this gift of communication, not the sorrow and terror it represents. I can look at the lists of shelters and think of pastor friends who have and will open their non-flooded churches to those in need-the spirit of comfort and help, not the loss it represents. And, if I can do that, even moments of great darkness will be punctuated by points of light-joy and happiness over the triumph of love. Please hold the people of Houston in your hearts during this difficult and dangerous time. And join me in being attentive to stories of hope that spring from it. #HoustonStrong Earlier this week, at a staff retreat, I read a passage from President Jimmy Carter's book of meditations, Sources of Strength, to my colleagues. Titled, "Take a Chance," the chapter explains the potential hazards of waiting until all conditions are perfect before acting. As a farmer, President Carter put this in terms of the peril of seeking the "perfect" weather for planting only to find the growing season had slipped away in the process of waiting! Yes, he says, watching the weather and being informed are important, but at some point, you must take the leap of faith and plant the seeds! How many times in your life have you waited for the "perfect" moment to do something you have been wanting or needing to do just because you are afraid you might fail? I know I am guilty of this far too often! I was at the same time encouraged and challenged by these words from President Carter: "We'll never know whether something new and wonderful is possible unless we try. Let's stretch our hearts, stretch our minds, be adventurous!" I want to encourage you today not to be afraid to try something you feel led to explore because you might fail. Yes, proper discernment and sound judgment, especially in major life decisions are important (I am not dismissing them!), but inaction based on fear of failure can sometimes hold us back. Who knows, we could be on the verge of achieving our life's purpose, our goals, or our dreams, but we won't know until we try! My plan is to meditate on the potential for the wonderful things I might experience if I take a chance. Will you join me in this adventure? Categories All |
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