A Thought

“I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.  And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised.  I have seen all the works that are done under the sun and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind.”  Ecclesiastes 1:13-14

The book of Ecclesiastes sounds like fatalistic defeatism – “all is vanity” – in which no human effort will ever pay off in any way.  We may enjoy some things for a time, a “season”; and likewise we may also endure suffering, but only for a “season”.  Things and people come and go, and I think this is the point of the writer’s lament as he continually concludes that the search for such temporal things is like “grasping for the wind”.

I also do not think the writer is necessarily cursing these things and persons we will surely embrace through the course of our lives, but we are being reminded not to get too attached to things that by their very nature will not last.  All these things and persons are merely “seasons” in our lives – to be enjoyed, to be endured – and they all serve some purpose but only for that season, only for that time.  After they’re gone, they’re gone.  Then what are we left with?

The answer for the faithful is obvious.  The Eternal One who “does not change” is steadfast.  The Holy God has given us the reason and the ability to see beyond the temporal things and persons in our lives.  And I think that if we can embrace Eternity, we can find genuine meaning even in the temporal things and persons.  And when the time comes – as it surely will come – we can more easily let go because we have been given a glimpse into Eternity by Messiah.

It is only when we are able to let go of the temporal things that we can find true meaning in these things.  And we know that moving forward, rather than vainly reaching into the past for things and persons and times that will never be again, is the Journey toward Home.

Blessings,

Michael