“What is crooked cannot be straightened;
What is lacking, cannot be counted.
Ecclesiastes 1:15
The Teacher, author of Ecclesiastes, is thought to be Solomon, son of David, and considered one of the wisest men who ever lived. V.11 tells us he was king over Israel and we know it was a time of wealth and peace. As he ascended the throne, his prayer to God was for wisdom to rule God’s people. God spoke and said, “Wish granted.” V.12 tells us that the Teacher then set his mind on studying and exploring by wisdom all that is done under the sun. That is certainly a step beyond “summa cum laude” in our graduation exercises right now.
Perhaps you have lamented that if only you were a bit smarter, maybe you could do life right. But we could wish to be a bit richer or a bit more talented or a bit more beautiful or a bit more whatever. The “if only-s” can weigh our life down with a sense of failure and inadequacy. The temptation is comparisonitis with others rather than focusing on God for our sense of value.
What we lack, what we don’t have, cannot be counted. It can only be lamented. Those laments can lead to a sense of meaninglessness and futility. We are tempted to despair that our “crooked” life “cannot be straightened” and made successful. On Sunday, Nicodemus comes to Jesus with the same dilemma. “How can I be reborn?” How can the crooked be made straight? Without God, the struggle is meaningless.
So if you could straighten-out something in your life what might it be? Yesterday I tripped on a throw rug and caught myself on a bookcase…in front of a whole waiting room full of people. I sure wish I could walk and not trip!! Then that scale just gives the wrong answer every morning. Those are silly examples but we all have areas we would like to improve. Pick your area and ponder if wisdom, or more knowledge really solves the itch.
Our Sunday’s Gospel text will close with John 3:16-17. “For God so loved….” You! Just as you are! Now! “That he gave his son…” Thank you Lord.
On the Way to Wonder 