Dear Friends,
We encounter scores of people every day. Some of them we meet only with a glance, while other may be part of a brief conversation. These people are nameless and seemingly inconsequential, and yet – from time to time – these encounters turn out to be game changers in the stories of our lives.
This is certainly the case in our Torah portion this week as we are introduced to one of the most forgettable characters in the entire bible. As we pick up the story, Joseph has set out to find his brothers who are herding sheep. On his quest to find them, Joseph seeks assistance from a complete stranger. This nameless character directs Joseph to the grazing grounds in Dothan.
In reading this very brief interaction between Joseph and the stranger, most of us would make nothing of it, and yet, this seemingly inconsequential conversation ultimately becomes a turning point in the course of Jewish history. This nameless man in the fields is never identified, never described and never heard from again in the entire Torah. Yet, this instantaneous, random encounter sets in motion the fateful story of Joseph’s descent into slavery and rise to power.
Were it not for this chance encounter, Joseph would not have found his brothers; he would not have been sold into slavery; he would not have become a redemptive force in the unfolding story of his family and ultimately the Jewish people.
So too it is with us. Chance encounters happen all the time, and periodically they have an impact on our lives. Perhaps someone is kind to us in a time of need; perhaps we received a random financial tip which turns out to be lucrative; or perhaps someone stood up for us when we were being mistreated.
Whatever the case may be, nameless people come and go all the time, and yet, most of us pay little heed to their presence. It is here, in the realm of serendipity that this nameless soul in the story of Joseph reminds us to open our eyes to value and meaning of chance encounters. It reminds us to be kind to everyone, for they just may end up changing our lives.
L’Shalom,
Steve