The young man had “every right” to be completely turned off in his world. His brothers had turned on him and his dad had forgotten him. There he was in is his early teen years left alone. There are few modern stories that could convey the anguish that was possible for this kid. Sure he was opinionated, he bragged a little and was the favorite son – so it seemed. But this kid was in trouble – big time.

More of the story so you can understand…

At home he had a dream and in the dream he was the main man – with everyone bowing before him…even his brothers and his parents. Not only does he have the dream but he explains the meaning of the dream with clarity to his brothers that were older than he was. He was already in a favored spot within his family –his dad loved him more than the other kids and had shown that by giving him special gifts – one in particular was a coat that was to die for. It was bright and colourful so much better than anyone else’s coat.

You might have guessed the story – it is the story of Joseph – one the great leaders of Israel – the saviour of their people. Many will know only of a Broadway production(or a Movie) of the guy with the coat of many colours. Whatever way you have heard about him – he was a real person that went through some difficult times to then come out in the end – blessed and able to bless others as well.

A little background that you need to know will help you. He was grabbed by his brothers and stripped of his colourful coat… which was ripped up and covered in blood before being returned to his dad as a testimonial of his fate. Then he was thrown in a pit. From there he was sold as a slave to slave traders and then transported a long ways from home – to a completely different country with a completely different language. He fell from being a favourite son to a then take a place as an accused slave in a very dirty prison – with no hope of ever getting out. Worse yet the accusations and charges laid on him were not true and had no basis – they were a complete lie! How unfair can it be? How hopeless can it possibly get?

In our Sunday evening sessions we have been looking closely at Joseph in a study that is entitled “From Pit to Pinnacle”. My partner, Pastor Tim Taylor, has done a great job of leading this. To say that I have enjoyed this study is an under statement – IT IS GREAT!

I draw your attention to Joseph today because of the realities of his life and how different he lived. In 2007 the example we see so often is so unlike Joseph’s life. The one major factor we see today is the “Dis-Dis-Cyn Factor”.

The “Dis-Dis-Cyn Factor”? Yes it means “Disillusioned, Discouraged and Cynical Factor”

First “Disillusioned” – stuff happens in life and things seem to fall apart. Everything we hoped for is evaporated and crushed. The natural reaction is to be disillusioned with all that has taken place. Any number of us have had this happened. A good friend drops us like a bomb by doing something that destroys the friendship. A husband leaves a family for a younger model of a mother. The favorite toy we have accumulated, maybe a car, or a stereo, and “thing” fails us. The result is that we are “Disillusioned” – the illusion of what we thought it should be is blown to bits.

Next “Discouraged” happens. The Courage is “Dis-ed” out of us. The courage in what we were doing or who we were doing it with – things like living, loving, laughter are gone… are maybe not needed or wanted anymore. People can discourage us – their actions can blow away our courage until we feel that there is no need to go on living. People or things that we have trusted break or leave us and we can hardly go on.

Finally we face the “Cyn Factor” or the Cynical in our lives. It is the natural self preserving factor. We never want to go there again and never want that kind of danger in or around us. It is part of the “fight” of our “fight or flight” ability to stay alive. Who in his right mind would want that kind of experience again? To protect ourselves we place our defense in a solid place around us…. Cynical. After the bad experience you need only have the name brand or the name of the person mentioned and the Cynical Protection will snap into place – and the first statement or reaction from us is Cynical.

Very few people can avoid this pattern. The “Dis-Dis-Cyn Factor” is real.

But Joseph didn’t show it. If he did his chronicler did not catch it. He rose to greatness because of avoiding the trap that most people get sucked into. “Dis-Dis-Cyn Factor” was not part of his life.

Today’s Traps…
I have witnessed lately the newest trap where the “Dis-Dis-Cyn Factor” has shown up. You may not even know what it is all about – but believe me the trap is there. It is “e-harmony.com” “e-harmony.com” is advertised all the time on television and in magazines. It is a dating service that will help the unconnected/not yet connected find a special friend or partner for life.

In one setting the individuals met online. They then communicated via email. Then they met. The “e-chemistry” was one thing… the “real-meeting” wasn’t so good. Disillusioned, Discouraged and Cynical could now be seen by the buckets.

In fact it has happened so often that there is now several new groups that have sprung up to offer better deals than e-harmony. If you just click on to their Web Sites you will be able to get happiness and a great relationship.

I have watched majority of TV adds that now project this idea – buy this or that because we understand that the “Dis-Dis-Cyn Factor” is something you want to avoid.

“Dis-Dis-Cyn Factor” is so common today that we have an entire economy fed by the need to avoid it.

Back to the original story and how amazing it really is… Joseph was not caught up in the “Dis-Dis-Cyn Factor” – he avoided it from what we see. With his avoidance he came out on the other side and was ready for what would happen next.

WOW! How many relationships would we have made better – or maybe avoided better – if we had just not allowed the “Dis-Dis-Cyn Factor” to control our lives? How much money would we have saved if this factor had not ruled our thinking?

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Reference Genesis 38 – 46 from Gateway Bible