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17 April 2007
Ecclesiastes 1:8-11
Everything is boring, so boring that you don't even want to talk about it. Words come again and again to our ears, but we never hear enough, nor can we ever really see all we want to see. All things continue the way they have been since the beginning. What has happened will happen again; there is nothing new here on earth.
Someone might say, "Look, this is new," but really it has always been here. It was here before we were.
People don't remember what happened long ago, and in the future people will not remember what happens now. Even later, other people will not remember what was done before them.
Yesterday we met the pessimistic teacher; today it's the cynical teenager! The perennial cry of the teenager is; "Everything is boring"! The cry of the cynic is: "There's nothing new - it's the same old stuff recycled, re-used, and regurgitated"!
So what's our (tor)mentor trying to get us to think about today? Once more it's the meaning of life (and the answer isn't 42!). Is that all there is to life? Is it merely an endless cycle of repeats on TV? The Teacher forces us to take a long hard look and ask our selves some hard questions. Are we fated to be always dissatisfied, always world weary, always forgotten?
So what are the challenges to us from this view of life?
Dissatisfaction: Sheryl Crow in her song "Soak up the Sun" says: "It's not having what you want; it's wanting what you've got". Where's your focus - is it on what you have or what you don't have? How grateful are you and do you take time in a day to thank God for what you do have? But then there's holy dissatisfaction - the hunger that comes from being discontent with a little when God wants to give us so much more - of Himself, His love, His grace.
World weary: this happens when we lose sight of God in our lives - where have you seen Him at work in the world, experienced His presence, been on the receiving end of His grace?
Fear of being forgotten: Christians are called to be builders of the Kingdom of God - investors in the eternal. Even if your name isn't remembered by anyone but God - what you have invested in will carry on. Evangelism and social action are Kingdom activities that last - so get involved! (See the Church Army website for more information and Xplore to give a year to God).
Reflect on the following quote then turn your reflections into prayer.
Nothing worth doing is completed in our lifetime; therefore, we are saved by hope.
Nothing true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history; therefore, we are saved by faith.
Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone; therefore, we are saved by love.
No virtuous act is quite as virtuous from the standpoint of our friend or foe as from our own; therefore, we are saved by the final form of love which is forgiveness.
R. Niebuhr [http://www.wisdomquotes.com/cat_history.html]
Written by Christine Gore.
Ecclesiastes 1:8-11
Everything is boring, so boring that you don't even want to talk about it. Words come again and again to our ears, but we never hear enough, nor can we ever really see all we want to see. All things continue the way they have been since the beginning. What has happened will happen again; there is nothing new here on earth.
Someone might say, "Look, this is new," but really it has always been here. It was here before we were.
People don't remember what happened long ago, and in the future people will not remember what happens now. Even later, other people will not remember what was done before them.
Yesterday we met the pessimistic teacher; today it's the cynical teenager! The perennial cry of the teenager is; "Everything is boring"! The cry of the cynic is: "There's nothing new - it's the same old stuff recycled, re-used, and regurgitated"!
So what's our (tor)mentor trying to get us to think about today? Once more it's the meaning of life (and the answer isn't 42!). Is that all there is to life? Is it merely an endless cycle of repeats on TV? The Teacher forces us to take a long hard look and ask our selves some hard questions. Are we fated to be always dissatisfied, always world weary, always forgotten?
So what are the challenges to us from this view of life?
Dissatisfaction: Sheryl Crow in her song "Soak up the Sun" says: "It's not having what you want; it's wanting what you've got". Where's your focus - is it on what you have or what you don't have? How grateful are you and do you take time in a day to thank God for what you do have? But then there's holy dissatisfaction - the hunger that comes from being discontent with a little when God wants to give us so much more - of Himself, His love, His grace.
World weary: this happens when we lose sight of God in our lives - where have you seen Him at work in the world, experienced His presence, been on the receiving end of His grace?
Fear of being forgotten: Christians are called to be builders of the Kingdom of God - investors in the eternal. Even if your name isn't remembered by anyone but God - what you have invested in will carry on. Evangelism and social action are Kingdom activities that last - so get involved! (See the Church Army website for more information and Xplore to give a year to God).
Reflect on the following quote then turn your reflections into prayer.
Nothing worth doing is completed in our lifetime; therefore, we are saved by hope.
Nothing true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history; therefore, we are saved by faith.
Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone; therefore, we are saved by love.
No virtuous act is quite as virtuous from the standpoint of our friend or foe as from our own; therefore, we are saved by the final form of love which is forgiveness.
R. Niebuhr [http://www.wisdomquotes.com/cat_history.html]
Written by Christine Gore.
