after reading Ecclesiastes i was struck by a few meaningless thoughts. Solomon recognized life as a gift from the Father but then goes to say that much of what we do with our lives seems trivial. meaningless, one translations says. everything meaningless? really?
curiosity sparked, i read the book a few times and i think i've come to an understanding here. let me try to express this...
Solomon does not say life is meaningless, i believe he is saying that if we are trying to find contentment in our possessions we will never be satisfied. (very greek of me right? (kl jokes...)) but he also says that wisdom is vanity. that having wisdom isn't that big of a deal. so, apparently more 'spiritual' things like wisdom and love and such are vanity as well?! i think there is some truth to that but there is something else going on here too b/c right after he says having wisdom isn't much of an advantage he explains how it's better to be wise than foolish.
in order to understand what is going on in this book i have to step back and look at it as a whole. slowly the apparent contradictions become of less importance as i try to soak on its essential oils for a bit. to taste it's essence... (an exercise in my redemptive gift of mercy)
by definition wisdom is better than foolishness so why would Solomon say it was vanity. in proverbs he says, in all your getting get wisdom, but he's older when he writes Ecclesiastes and probably wiser. could it be that the wisest man sees that wisdom isn't the point of life? i think what Solomon was after here is just that. How do we as people who desire the infinite (G-d has written eternity on our hearts, He has given this desire to us!) find contentment in a finite world? i can see Solomon's frustration with the meaninglessness of it. all the toil, all the frustrations to grab at something we desire so much but by our very definition can never achieve!
this is the great crutch given to us by the L-rd. yet, we will see it less as a crutch the more we become content with our lot in life. the less we worry, the more content we become. the less we fear, the more content we become. the less we try to grab and keep and worship un-eternal things as though they were eternal the more content we become.
and here's the rub. Solomon actually says pleasure is a good thing given to us directly from the L-rd's hand. in the middle of this rant about how meaningless everything is he stops and says 'oh by the way, the L-rd has given us food and drink and work to enjoy, this is the meaning of life.' he says we were created by G-d to experience pleasure!! doesn't this seem to contradict the last paragraph? i thought we weren't created to seek pleasure?
thats the very point folks!! nail on the head!! we were NOT created to SEEK pleasure but we ARE created to EXPERIENCE pleasure, legitimate pleasure in the L-rd's timing and seasons. there is a time for everything on earth. a time for grieving and a time for laughing.
ah, see there is more here! if we are made to experience pleasure why would the L-rd sometimes give us seasons of grieving? the simple answer i have found personally is that my idea of pleasure and the L-rds idea of pleasure for me are two different things.
reading the book 'jesus freaks' has been eye opening. many of these martyrs die rejoicing. they obviously have a different idea of pleasure. i think my only explanation for this other worldly happiness is a feeling i have seldom felt. in the throngs of pain it is easier perceived than in laughter. it is a contentment, or sense of rightness that comes over me in my darkest fears. it only shows its face when i am not trying to hide my emotions. something about expressing my feelings allows this presence of peace to come upon me.
its a sense of rightness that no amount of striving or planning or working or spending or saving on my part could ever conjure. it is in moments when i realize un-eternal things are finite that i can stop trying to fill my infinity craving with non-infinity, look on the face of the invisible and be content despite my current situation.
you see, you and i are higher than all the stuff of the world. we, have eternity in our hearts. we are called to so much more than seeking the types of pleasure that is not eternal and that fades. but we are surrounded on earth by things that give us pleasure, so how do we seek eternal pleasure? i dont think i have it all figured out but if we can bless the L-rd, who is the foundation of all good pleasure, in all of our situations i think we will be on our way to contentment.
one more way. the fear of the L-rd. He has laid out a road map to successful living. it's called the ten commandments. when we take these commandments as a foundation as non-negotiables then we have a fear of the L-rd. when we subvert these commands because they are inconvenient or we are worried of what others will say or do we fear man. G-d is infinite, man is not. men only have the ability to sense the infinite. our infinite craving can only be quenched by the infinite. so, whatever it is you have to do to feast on the infinite do it. its our only option for contentment.
i know that was a really intense post but i wanted to also share a short conversation i had w my father on facebook that meant a lot to me. J is me and P is my papa.
J 'how much wait can we rest on the dreams of our fathers?'
P 'if you mean weight, none.'
J 'how long can we wait on the dreams of our fathers?'
P 'follow your own dreams. the L-rd gives you the desires of your heart. bedtime, G'night.'
i know that seems like a bit of a confusing mess, but it meant a lot to me. so thanks pops. your the greatest!
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