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Recently, at random, I had the thought pop into my mind, "You can't be everything to everyone, but you can be you with all you meet." At the time, I didn't think a lot of it, but I knew it was something I needed to hold onto. Then, I began reading the story of Joseph (you know, the coat of many colors fellow 😉). One thing that I realized about Joseph is that his environment never changed him. The people who were his peers throughout his journey changed. First, his peers were his brothers/family--whom he authentically shared himself with, his dreams, literally. As to his environment at that time, it was more of a nomadic lifestyle and natural landscape because his family were shepherds. Then, he was sold to the Egyptians after nearly being killed by his brothers. In Egypt, he first served under a man named Potiphar as a slave. Apparently, Joseph was a bit of a "looker" because Potiphar's wife somehow began to get the idea that she needed to have him. I'm talking some deep lust, 'As the World Turns'--soap opera type stuff.
So, Potiphar's household presented peers unlike what Joseph had previously experienced in his nomadic lifestyle--a completely different culture. Potiphar was obviously well off enough that he employed slaves to do his labor. There were likely other slaves, possibly also from nomadic backgrounds or humble means, and then, of course, there's the "hungry wife", yeesh! What a strange world to find yourself living in. All new. The environment, well, I can only imagine what one might think when seeing Egypt after growing up in a cow pasture all the days of your life. That would likely be analogous to me in New York City or the Clampets in Beverly Hills. It would feel like alien territory of sorts, shocking and a little bit amazing at the same time.
Of course, after Potiphar's wife makes her advances (insert Donna Summer's song 'Hot Stuff' because that must've been the song she was hearing as she pined over Joseph, lol) and Joseph leaves abruptly, his coat--the only sign left in her hungry hands--a piece of evidence she uses against him out of her frustration at being denied. Potiphar, feeling betrayed by Joseph as his wife presented the coat and her "untruth" of Joseph, decides to throw him into prison. Ah! New environment, AGAIN. New peers, AGAIN. I can only imagine what prison might've been like in Egypt in those times--I imagine hot, smelly, and I envision rats for some reason, whether true or not. Yet, again, in this environment with prisoners and guards as peers, he somehow remains true to himself, a shepherd at heart--faithful to the resources which he is given and the environment which he is in. He began to find favor with the guards. In time, two men who served directly to the Pharaoh were brought in as prisoners. Each had a dream. Joseph knew God could interpret the meaning, and he convened with God and found interpretation, to which he translates the meaning to each of the servants. Asking only to be remembered when the dreams came true--as he knew they would. The interpretations came to be, and one servant died, the other lived--but the servant forgot Joseph for a long time. Many years Joseph continued a prisoner. Until, one day, Pharaoh had a disturbing dream. The servant remembered Joseph! Joseph was called before the Pharaoh, and once again, he interpreted the dream correctly. The feat landed him a top-tier position in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. New peers, new environment. Talk about the valleys and the mountains Joseph had experienced being tossed to and fro among all these different environments. Yet, he stayed steady. What gave him his steadiness? What gave this unwavering steadfastness? God! God was always in his presence. He had peace because God was with him. His mind was always on that above. His ultimate peer was with him, God. His ultimate environment? That of the Kingdom of God. Joseph communed with God in the lowest of lows and the highest of heights.
Joseph's dream, that he initially shared with his siblings, was the catalyst to their jealousy--which they acted on--starting this wild journey. What a story it makes though! How beautiful?! In the different social situations, cultures, environments, Joseph was just authentically himself. The shepherd, seen by God and serving God. A child of the Most High. I think he would've understood the statement, "You can't be everything to everyone, but you can be you with all you meet." A child reflects their father. Joseph was just reflecting who he had been convening with most, in all the places he'd been. He was reflecting His true father and those that came into Joseph's presence were blessed because of it, including the Egyptians, all of whom were saved because he chose to be true to God, within himself. He was truly authentic.
The concept of authenticity to self refers to being true to one's own values, beliefs, and identity. It involves living in alignment with one's true self, rather than conforming to societal expectations or pressures. On the other hand, conforming to others means adjusting one's behavior, beliefs, or values to fit in with a particular group or society.
If you enjoy journaling and would like to take time to reflect on yourself and the environments that you have been in. Please feel free to use the prompt below and do so. I am working hard currently on producing a prompted journal that I hope to one day offer to those who wish to use for self reflection and growth along this journey of life. Please stay tuned, I would love to share with all who are interested.
Reflective writing prompt: Reflect on a time when you felt torn between being true to yourself and conforming to others. What were the factors that influenced your decision? How did you feel during and after the experience? Did you learn anything about yourself or your values through this process?
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