It is rare for the Frost Household to collectively become ‘Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells’. But such was the case after watching the first episode of the new series of The Apprentice.
Gathered in The Boardroom were ‘Britain’s entrepreneurial elite’… and in what Lord Sugar has previously described as his favourite task – that of the candidates buying a series of items – were sent (at no doubt tremendous expense) to Hong Kong. Needless to say, not knowing each other nor the place itself, neither team did very well and went on to experience the wrath of The Boardroom for their failure. ‘Not quite the person you are looking for,’ proclaimed Baroness Brady about one of those fired for being too pleasant and caring for their fellows.
While it usually (but not this time) makes for good television, it doesn’t make for good role-modelling for those in or aspiring towards positions of leadership.
On this day, the Church marks the Presentation of Christ in the Temple – or Candlemas. Mary and Joseph went to Jerusalem when Jesus was just 40 days old. It was the custom under Old Testament laws that parents would take their first-born son to the Temple to dedicate him to God: to ‘Present’ him. Hence why that event is sometimes called the ‘Presentation of Christ’. There, they meet, first, Simeon and, later, Anna.
You can read about it at Luke 2:22-35. When Simeon speaks to Mary, it’s easy to forget that Joseph was also there. Not quite ‘fired’ but nonetheless often overlooked.
Joseph. Carpenter. Bread winner. Provider. ‘What on earth is going on here?’ he might have asked. ‘Why him?’ we might say. A descendant of David. A righteous man (Matt 1:19 KJV). One can imagine that both the confusion and the God-given resolution of the arrival of this child is probably impacting on his work. As a carpenter, his occupation had a long and honourable history in Israel stretching back to the building of the Tabernacle. He uses tools, probably some not that dissimilar to today’s counterparts. He makes furniture, works with builders, farmers and fishermen. A respected man in a respectable job. A businessman. An entrepreneur.
As the years go by, Jesus will watch him at work and follow in his footsteps. He will become Joseph’s apprentice. Joseph will be Jesus’ role model.
One doesn’t need to look very far for examples of poor role-modelling among the rich and famous, be they ‘celebrity’ or ‘influencer’, in business or politics, in charities or churches. Each of us can no doubt identify such people in our own lives, I expect.
So let us remain focussed on the ones to whom we have been an apprentice. Those from whom we have learnt how to live life, how to be the person we are and are becoming. Those who we gather around us in life’s boardroom (without the power-holding table or the pointy finger). Those who are, as someone once said, ‘The people who influenced me most were those who didn’t try to.’
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