INDIGNATION

Most of the times we get into the comparison game and it just gets us into a state of feeling “incapacitated” as against the other party. That feeling of not being seen, heard or publicly celebrated makes you feel some people are having it better than you are. And the question that struck your heart at times could be “are some people meant to just shine while others are to watch?” The most worrisome part of it is when such set of people are referred to as “stars” and then the hurt increases as well as the passion to match up into what the “star” does. It’s not every time it is about jealousy but just a sincere wish to be celebrated too and at the top of your career. I think the problem has been what was defined to us over the years as a “star”. This has led many to a state of indignation; being resentful.

The Sun is the closest star to Earth. The Sun is a huge mass of hot, glowing gas. The strong gravitational pull of the Sun holds Earth and the other planets in the solar system in orbit. The Sun’s light and heat influence all of the objects in the solar system and allow life to exist on Earth (Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009). Research shows that the sun is a star but because of its closeness to man, it is not literally called a star. One other important thing to note is that the sun plays a major role to the existence of the earth at large. In essence, the sun is a class of star in its own right.

Joseph was a young man who was to become a star and he himself could see it vividly. The young man was diligent with his work and his father loved him so much. The moment he began to see that he was going to become a star and shared it with his brothers, they had problems with him. The problem was not really about these men bowing to Joseph as the star but inability to understand that stars only shine at a particular time of the day. In essence, if they bow to him at night, in the day the star would respect their sun. He was referred as the star because he was to play his role in the darkest moment. The sun is also a star! His brothers were not less important than Joseph. They actually played their role as the sun by default throughout Joseph’s existence even after his death. They had it hard because they failed to understand just that principle of what it means to be a “star”.

I have heard many people talk about Esau in a disdainful manner. He is seen to have been very stupid to let his brother have his birthright. However, this was the original plan before they came into the world. Esau wasn’t less important, he only played out the script that was written about him. His part of ensuring the star in Jacob came out was symbolic. He was the sun that shone to push Jacob on the run out of his comfort zone to wrestling with the Lord. Esau actually came to the realization of this, and became contented. His brother Jacob thought after he had ran from Esau for years, Esau was going to fight him, but this man has come to realize we all can’t be sung heroes. Esau had a fulfilled life in his right. You may say he could have got the blessing, if he didn’t let go of his birthright. But, if he had the blessing, nothing would have taken him out of his father’s house to use it judiciously towards the grand plan of establishing Israel. His sun only gave expression to Jacob’s star.

John the Baptist was having the fire in him as he went around preaching of the coming of Jesus. He did this with all of his strength. The content of his message was just to let people know a saviour is coming. Finally the saviour came. John went down as that marked the end of his assignment. His days ended as a sun, it was the time of the star. However, some people came to instigate resentment in him about the coming of Jesus, but as a man of understanding, he made it clear that he was to go down for Christ to be lifted. It wasn’t about being seen as the star, he knew he was a star, even in the class of a sun.

The sun is what keeps the earth in existence, if there was no earth what will the star be giving light in its time? However, the society has imputed to us that you can only be a star. As a sun you are honorable as you give opportunity for the star to showcase its shine. You may not be seen as a star because your own time of shining is when everyone is busy and you are less concentrated on, but, you are not less than the star that comes out when it is dark and everyone can take notice.

Friend, don’t be weary in whatever you are doing now that seems nobody is seeing you. In fact don’t be tired of being a part of that person’s success story. It is a sign your light is serving its purpose. Don’t give room for resentment. Don’t be tired.

Like Joseph’s brothers; don’t fight it. Like Esau; come to understand your place and like John the Baptist; ignore every resentment. You may not be the star, but you are a star, called the sun. You are important!

Be Innovated

Olufemi Ibitoye

@toyeolufemi