Feeling Forgotten—Gen. 39/40; Luke 15: 1-7
When I think of movies that traumatized me as a child, one of the worst was a 1993 movie titled “Homeward Bound.” It tells the story of three house pets who feel abandoned after being boarded on a ranch by their owners who are away for a few months. The three pets decide to trek across the mountains to find their home and beloved owners. While there is, of course, a happy ending to the movie. The deep sadness the two dogs and cat have at feeling abandoned is overwhelming. Indeed, many times we feel abandoned and forgotten in life: when friends make plans without us, when family members forget a birthday or anniversary, when we become older and have to live in a place we don’t want to be.
Joseph and our Gospel lesson both talk about feelings of being lost and forgotten—this sense of loneliness and abandonment that can often weigh on us in life. There are three things we can learn in this scripture: first, feeling forgotten is literally like being in your own personal prison; second, when we feel forgotten, we must take the opportunity to strengthen our spiritual gifts and our faith; lastly, we are never forgotten, for God searches for us when we feel most lost.
When we feel lost for forgotten it is like being in a prison, just like Joseph was. A little context to the story here is needed. Last week, Potipher’s wife tried to sleep with Joseph and he runs away leaving his cloak. In her anger and embarrassment, she accuses Joseph of assault, and an enraged Potipher throws Joseph into prison. Joseph is wrongfully thrown into prison with no recourse because he is a slave, and he has no rights. When we are forgotten, we feel trapped, hurt, left behind. It’s like we sit trapped in our own prison back and forth between what do I do and why was I left behind. In older translations, they use the word forsaken instead of forgotten.
Joseph certainly could have felt forsaken in prison. But Joseph doesn’t give up. He reminds me of that old saying, “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.” Joseph, though he may feel forsaken, chooses to put all his talents to work and become the top prisoner in the jail. Instead of becoming a problem because of his problems, Joseph chose to solve problems.
It’s likely the same in the Gospel lesson. A man has 100 sheep, and one wanders off. It is the lost sheep. The whole passage is a metaphor for us. Sometimes we wander away from God and become lost in things that don’t speak to our soul. Sometimes we are pushed out of the fold by unkind, alleged Christians. Sometimes, it is as simple as we wake up one day and realize we have goofed up. But sometimes we isolate and let ourselves become forsaken and forgotten. I remember once my dad called after it had been a while since we talked. He fussed that I hadn’t called and spoken to him for some time, and that I shouldn’t let it go that long. Feeling a bit salty and spicy all at once, I replied, “Well, Dad, phone works both ways, and I didn’t see you calling or texting either.”
Being forgotten and forsaken is bad enough in life. But self-isolating is dangerous. We need people around us to engage and talk. We need this fellowship of believers to pray, counsel, and eat…yes especially eat…with us to sustain us and help us when we need a faithful community to rely on. Joseph had no one but God. He was enslaved in a land with a different language, culture, religion, and way of life. Yet sought ways to thrive. Even when he was ultimately forgotten again by the cup-bearer who promised to help Joseph.
But Joesph didn’t waste his time away. He worked at strengthening his spiritual gifts and his faith even as he felt forgotten. Maybe we simply need turn that saying about lemons around. Instead of making lemonade, my friend says, “When life hands you lemons, squirt them in life’s eye and run away.” Joseph knew God had something in store for him. Joseph trusted in God to lead him to that blessing. Nowhere in here do we see God making an explicit promise to Joseph like was made to Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob. Joseph went solely and completely on trust, believing that God would do right by him and bless him.
Joseph began to hone his administrative skills again. He began to work on his organizational abilities. He soon became the head of the prison. Perhaps top inmate in the jail isn’t the best place one could be, but it’s about the best out of several awful choices. What Joseph built, though, was his own integrity and trust. Just as he trusted in God, he modeled a faithful behavior that let Potipher (at one point) and now the Jailer to completely trust him.
He also began to interpret dreams. Dreams had always been part of Joseph’s life of faith, and now he is able to interpret and explain, through God’s power. This shows not only is he an administrative whiz, he also has great depth of wisdom for a still relatively young man. Each trial, each step of his life is sharpening his skills and abilities to be ready for God’s blessing in his life.
When we feel forsaken and forgotten, it is easy to simply shut down—to be overcome by anger and irritation, to give in to the sadness, to let a broken heart define our days and nights. But just because you’re in a forgotten place doesn’t mean you are actually forgotten. God is not just God in our miser, but God is also the source of our blessings. And we are called in every season of life to continue being a blessing to others. It reminds me of an old hymn, “Lord, Send Me,” which says, “There is much to do; there’s work on every hand. Hark the cry for help comes ringing through the land.” And soon enough, all of Joseph’s trials and labors would be used to respond to a cry for help ringing through the land.
And finally, we must remember that we are not alone, forsaken, or forgotten ever in our lives. A couple of years ago, I went to Atlantic Station for dinner with friends. The parking deck there is a monstrosity on a good day. But in the dark, it’s impossible to navigate the color and letter-oriented system. I lost my car. Searched for 30 minutes. Then I had to ride around on the security cart for another 45 minutes to find it. In that time, I was certain it had been stolen, though, I’ve yet to figure out anyone who WANTS to steal a Prius.
In those moments were we feel a sinking feeling, panic rising, anger and hurt tears welling up in our face, we must remember this Gospel lesson. God goes and seeks out the one lost and lonely sheep. That’s because every single one of those sheep was valuable. Every single one of those sheep had a purpose, and every single one was valuable to the shepherd. Friends, it is the same for us. We are not too old, not too infirm, not too forgetful, not too broken, not too anything for God to use and work through us. And in those times we forsake ourselves, God will come and find us, just like the shepherd sought out the one missing sheep.
God was with Joseph in the well, in his being sold to the caravan, in his time at Potipher’s house, in his false accusation, and in prison. In all of these forgotten, forsaken, and lonely times, God was with Joseph, and Joseph felt God’s presence strongly enough that he always remained faithful. Even if your mind betrays you and you forget everything else in life, God does not forget you, ever. And just like God was with Joseph, God will be with each of us to the end of our journey.
The movie Homeward Bound traumatized me as a child. I spent the entire duration fretting over the forgotten and lonely feeling of the pets and worrying they’d never make it home to see their beloved kids again. But as an adult, with a thimble full more of wisdom, I know that in every lonely, forsaken, and scary spot in life, God is with each of us. The same God who never left or abandoned Joseph, and who searches for one little lost sheep will surely love us and hold us close in that loving embrace. Never forget who God is: Immanuel, God with us.
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