Dashboard Joseph

Over Thanksgiving I flew into Chicago to visited my best friend, Kris. A quirky genius, Kris is someone who lives many lives and jobs at the same time. Constantly on the go, Kris, like many of us, seems to carry her whole life in her car. Even though anyone looking into her car might wonder how she finds the things she needs, I am always amazed Kris knows exactly where everything is, each pile having a purpose and every object having a proper place.

Along with the many reminders and notes strewn across the console of the car, on Kris’ dashboard sits two toys. A McDonald’s toy she says is for a client and a figurine of St. Joseph.

As I rode with Kris throughout Chicago, I couldn’t help but notice the little figurine every time we made a sharp turn. Now you might think this sounds strange, but each time I looked at that little figurine, I was taken aback by the distant, distracted look on Joseph’s face. The figurine depicts Joseph as a carpenter making toys, but instead of looking at the toys or what he is doing, he has a distant, distracted look like something is bothering him! And I must admit over several comments and laughs, the little figurine was playfully named “Dashboard Joseph”.

On inquiring where Kris has obtained this dDshboard Joseph I was informed that she had been asked by a friend to rescue him from a planter in the front of one of her friend’s houses because it had sold. Apparently, there is a legend that if you bury a figurine of St. Joseph upside down in the front yard of the home you’re trying to sell, the Patron Saint of Carpentry will help your home to sell faster! Hmmmm, who knew?

Now one day I will write a whole different article on the use of Saint figurines and observances of iconic faces of Mother Mary in toast, trees and other objects. But this week I am focused on Dashboard Joseph! Not so much focused on the use of the figurine for home sales, but focused on this particular depiction of Joseph’s figurine, looking annoyed and distracted.

As I think about the Christmas season and story of Jesus’ birth, looking at the figurine caused me to think about what a bum rap Joseph seems to get in the whole biblical depiction of his stepson’s birth. Other than two or three mentions of him in the birth and childhood of Jesus, “Joseph of Nazareth” is almost forgotten. He is almost never mentioned other than being a “righteous man” in scripture.

The first time he is mentioned, he is being told by an angel to marry Mary even though she was pregnant and the baby was not his.

“…mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

20But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[c] because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matt 1:18-21)

The other times were when Joseph was told by an angel to move Jesus and his family out of Egypt, and the only other time is when Joseph loses Jesus in the temple as a child.

We hear about Mary explaining to Martha that she has become pregnant by the Holy Spirit, but we do not get to hear about Joseph trying to explain to his father, Jacob, how Mary was pregnant before they were married or how the baby was not his own!

I guess my point is, other than the manger narrative and apparently assistance in selling a home, the name, Joseph of Nazareth, is put away after Christmas just like the decorations we take off our trees.

Which leads me to the question, what other things do we put out of our minds after the Christmas holiday comes to a close?

For example, it is real easy at the shelter I work with for us to get volunteers at Thanksgiving and Christmas. People want to give toys to needy children and feed the homeless in the spirit of the season. But where are these volunteering families and individuals the other 363 days of the year? Like dashboard Joseph, we as a society tend to put the needs of our homeless, poor and destitute children away with our bulbs and holiday lights. This could possibly be one of the many reasons why the suicide rate is the highest over the holiday season. People who are remembered are as quickly forgotten. Our storebought Hallmark giving is wonderful, but the inner needs of humanity cannot be put in a box and forgotten after New Years.

This year, as you’re celebrating the spirit of Christmas, Hanukkah or Winter Solstice giving, I would like you to consider these questions: Who do we forget when the holidays are over, and how can we keep them in mind throughout the year?

For further research: http://www.saintjosephsellshomes.com/