Wednesday’s thoughts
On the other hand, and this is the direction I am now moving, mostly, we are not the person of privilege; we are the recipient of dishonor. We are not the favored son or daughter; we are the rejected one. There are more of us than there are favored children just as there are more Joseph’s brothers than there are Josephs.
How do we handle what it means to be “the middle child” or “the junior in rank”? What do we do when we are turned down in favor of someone else?
I will try to develop a sermon that looks seriously at Joseph’s brothers knowing that their response was not what we’d like to follow. They became angry with Joseph and they plotted against him. They had him thrown into a pit and sold into slavery. That kind of vindictiveness did them no good, and, ultimately, did them much harm.
How do we handle being second best?
What is our response to not being the favored one?
How could the story of Joseph and his brothers been a different story; with a happier ending?
I’d like to hear from you. Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net (click on the blank if the email address is not shown and the email address will pop up.
I look forward to your response.
Charles Schuster
