The Life Experience

Life is a strange thing. We learn as we grow older but the lessons that are the hardest are those of the past. We learn what not to do only after we have done it. Sometimes the lesson will come back around and be useful but most times we can just chalk it up to a life experience. Life’s lessons are good and sometimes they are tough but the best lessons are those that will have some sort of future benefit. One thing that I have learned is that we need to embrace life for what it is either good or bad because there is nothing that we can do to prevent or change most of what happens to us. It is what it is so we may as well find a way to be happy. Even if we are in a mess we should find a way to be happy while we are in it. I think back to the bible story of Joseph and the problems that he had for most of his natural life. Joseph was sold into slavery as a teenager and was falsely imprisoned for much of the rest of his life but the marvelous thing about this story is that wherever he ended up he maintained a positive attitude and a spirit of excellence. This is evident because his bosses always put him in charge wherever he ended up. While he was a slave in Potiphar’s house Potiphar put him in charge of everything that he had to include his bank account. The problem came when he refused to have an affair with Potiphar’s wife. She accused him of attempted rape and he was put in prison. I believe that Potiphar knew within himself that Joseph didn’t try to rape his wife but he took the action to save face in the community and among his peers. Joseph was put in charge of every single thing in the prison. This tells me that he must have maintained a joyful attitude despite his adverse circumstances. The warden would hardly use someone with a negative demeanor. I suspect that he wanted someone who would be a positive role model for the rest of the prisoners. Every one of Joseph’s life experiences would seem to indicate that there was no need in doing the right thing in life. He seemed to get stepped on no matter what he did. I can’t say for a fact that I would have done the same thing if it had been me but one thing that I can say is that I try to emulate this great man of God by studying his wonderful attitude and outlook on life. He did everything contrary to his negative experiences. He had to make a conscious choice each day. I can imagine how he felt many days when he woke up to see the prison walls and knew that he was unjustly imprisoned. He had to choose to overlook his situation throughout the day because the prison walls were a constant reminder to him of his situation. I can’t see how Joseph’s life experiences had a future benefit because his future looked so bleak. Yet despite the odds and regardless of the circumstances he had the daily victory of not being sucked under by the whirlpool of his circumstances. Many times when I look back at the missed opportunities and setbacks of my own life I think about Joseph and become inspired by the way that he hung in there and fought until the bitter end and overcame a situation which would have killed a lesser person. All of the things which happened to Joseph served to humble him for the power that he would have one day. For those of you who don’t know the story it did have a happy ending. God created a unique set of circumstances which propelled Joseph to the position of being the second most powerful man in Egypt. Pharoah himself appointed Joseph to this position of power. Joseph’s tenacity paid off in serious dividends in the end. What about yours? Can you hold out through life’s trying times? Let Joseph be an example to you. Let this be a lesson that you learn ahead of time. The Good Life