long before the helicopter’s invention, there was “helicopter parenting”. did this parenting-style inspire creating that flying contraption? there is no need to drone on about it.
buddha’s father is perhaps the most well-known and ancient of the airborne parent. he essentially trapped his son into a palatial lifestyle. eventually, the buddha would exit his protected life to achieve enlightenment and understand suffering.
does history have record of a hovering deity? was there a “helicopter god”?
the book of genesis suggests of such a hovering presence. after joseph was brought to be a slave in egypt, the torah indicates that the lord was with joseph. “he was a successful man….and the lord made everything he was doing successful in his hand.” genesis 39:2-3. after imprisoned based upon sexual impropriety accusations, the master of the universe continued to “bubble wrap” joseph. while incarcerated, the torah states “and he was there in the prison, and the lord was with joseph and extended kindness to him and gave him favor in the eyes of the warden. and the warden put all the prisoners in the prison into joseph’s hand, and he was doing all the things that they do there. the warden was not seeing anything in his hand because the lord was with him, and the lord would make whatever he did successful.” genesis 39: 20-23
in contrast, judah, joseph’s half-brother, received no such divine treatment. judah suffered; he lost two sons and his wife. perhaps fearing that his daughter-in-law tamar was cursed [in that she may have had some connection to his sons’ deaths], judah trepidly managed his relationship with her. to do so, he essentially denied her right to marry his remaining son. at a low point in judah’s life- the loss of his wife and the humiliation by tamar concerning he was the father of her children- judah was able to climb out of his pit of denial and despair to recognize righteousness- tamar’s. ironically, her righteousness would revert back to judah. in the book of job-like fashion, while judah lost two sons, tamar would provide him twins.
joseph had pit time as well. while originally thrown in a pit by his brothers, joseph’s prison was also referenced as a pit. the pharoah, in commanding joseph’s presence for dream interpretation, used the word pit. at the moment of pharoah’s inquiry as to joseph’s abilities to interpret dreams and possible moment of salvation, joseph also displayed humility. he acknowledged to the ruler that his gift of interpretation was not his by the almighty’s.
what can we learn when two pivitol figures receive such disparate treatment from the master of the universe? looking towards the end game, both judah and joseph appreciated others- they were humble.
are modern helicopter parents producing appreciative children? many high profile cases offer little proof in either direction. thus, it is a worthy endeavor for the media and researchers to tackle. in the meantime, those who wish to embrace the propeller and should land on the ground once in awhile to see whether their children have embraced a modicum of humility.
be well!!
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The Ten Commandments Project 