When asked “What was the first movie that Kevin Costner appeared in?” The average fan of things “celluloid” often responds “No Way Out.” Certainly that was a movie that brought him into the limelight, established his leading man status, and led to his career in many other memorable films. The actual answer is the 1982 Ron Howard film “Night Shift.” He is listed in the credits as ‘Frat Boy No. 1’ and appears at the climax of a frat-style, over-the-top party playing out in a New York City morgue. When the music is suddenly stopped by a frantic Henry Winkler, Costner can be seen holding a beer and looking surprised at the sudden halt of celebration. He has no speaking role, but he appears. (and one might argue “Sizzle Beach, USA” is the real answers, but it was released in 1986 and thus Costner did not “appear” until then)

Discounting “Night Shift” as an answer, one might offer “The Big Chill.” There he played Alex, the friend who committed suicide, the event that brings the rest of the cast together. All that is seen of him are his hair and his slashed wrists as the mortician dresses his corpse in the movie’s opening scenes. All the flashback scenes in which he had a speaking role ended up on the cutting room floor.  Since then he has had many speaking roles.

You know who never got a speaking role? St. Joseph. He utters not one word in Scripture.  If this were the movies, he would only be paid union scale. Maybe he gets listed in the credits. Yet he was a leading man, the one who helped to shape the character of the child Jesus. He heroically led his family to safety. He was a righteous man. Without a word said.

I suspect that would have been of no importance to this righteous man who was so close to God, that when God spoke in a dream, Joseph simply obeyed.

Would that we all were so close and so obedient. We we all as righteous.

His was a “career” to which we can all aspire.