Some heroes of the day
make a brief appearance
in the story of God but
keep that old saying in mind:
there are no small parts, only small actors.
So the curtain rises and
in staggers Joseph, seriously sober
but suddenly knocked sideways by news
that the belly of his betrothed
swells with the son of another.
Heart shredded, our gallant hero’s
first concern is the dignity of the one
he believes has betrayed him.
He swallows his pride
and decides to wrap her secret
in a cloak of silence
to protect her from disgrace.
God is of course the author
of this particular love story
so there is a supernatural twist:
an angel visits Joseph in the night
outlining God’s plan for Joseph to marry
Mary, his faithful servant, after all.
And the remainder of the tale
centers on Joseph’s surrender:
surrender to a life
of certain complication;
surrender to joining Mary
on a journey of mystery
and the likely threat
of whispers by gossips;
surrender to forfeit his rights
to the marriage bed until Mary
gave birth to someone else’s son.
God knew this was
a lot to ask of a man, which is why
Joseph’s willingness was required.
Ours too whenever God calls on us.
Surrendering our will for his
is how we show our Heavenly Father
that we choose
to have skin in the game.
Matthew 1:18–25