After Jacob leaves the land of Canaan to return to Syria and Laban his uncle, he encounters Rachel and becomes married to both Leah (Rachel’s older sister) and Rachel. Between his two wives and their concubines he has many sons, in particular is one of Rachel’s sons Joseph. This is the Joseph who dreams and interpret dreams, this is the Joseph of the ‘coat of many colours’, or what in the musical realm is “Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat”. He is the original dreamer. The one who has and shares the truth of his dreams, which concerns his father and causes his brothers to want to destory him. Joseph’s brothers end up selling him as a slave to the Egyptians. In Egypt, Joseph works for Pharoah, until he is misrepresented by Pharoah’s wife and put into prison, where he continues interpreting dreams (foretelling the release and restoration of a fellow prisoner, and the death of another). His dreams may have started his whole initial downfall with his brothers, but it is the gift that he has been given, that he continues to use, no matter where circumstances may bring him. It reminds me of a song from ‘La La Land’ “The Fools Who Dream”, that has the lines
“Here’s to the ones who dream
Foolish as they may seem
Here’s to the hearts that ache
Here’s to the mess we make”
As a “dreamer” or any person really, we have gifts creative or otherwise, attitudes, and persepctives that go with us wherever we go. Sometime they can place us in sticky situations, but they are often what brings us through the difficult times and helps us to be more resilient. At a time when we are in a pandemic, perhaps even a lockdown because of this pandemic it is a good time to pause and reflect on what makes us so resilient. What is our little bit of “madness” that gets us through. For Joseph it is his dreaming and ability to interpret dreams. For me it has always been my faith. Growing up in the Baptist tradition and doing my Girl Guide religion and life badges with our church’s student minister, I remember being baptized and becoming a Christian being likened to marriage. Sometimes the balance may not be quite right, there may be days where you do not agree, but as long as you are married you are bound together. This truth is something that I have always carried with me, and in this time of a pandemic I will continue carrying it.
“A bit of madness is key
To give new colours to see
Who knows where it will lead us?
And that’s why they need us”.
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