On the Way to Wonder

Ecclesiastes 8: 1-8 (The Message) 

There’s nothing better than being wise,

Knowing how to interpret the meaning of life.

Wisdom puts light in the eyes,

And gives gentleness to words and manners.

  2-7 Do what your king commands; you gave a sacred oath of obedience. Don’t worryingly second-guess your orders or try to back out when the task is unpleasant. You’re serving his pleasure, not yours. The king has the last word. Who dares say to him, “What are you doing?” Carrying out orders won’t hurt you a bit; the wise person obeys promptly and accurately. Yes, there’s a right time and way for everything, even though, unfortunately, we miss it for the most part. It’s true that no one knows what’s going to happen, or when. Who’s around to tell us?

8 No one can control the wind or lock it in a box.
No one has any say-so regarding the day of death.
No one can stop a battle in its tracks.
No one who does evil can be saved by evil.

Chapter 8 of Ecclesiastes, supposedly written by King Solomon, the Teacher, suddenly shifts topics in his investigation of wisdom.  He talks about our response to government.  Hmmm, these words are a bit challenging in our culture.  We live in a culture where we have social media that continually has commentaries on how government is governing.  The text feels “old fashioned,” and definitely on the side of the establishment.  I do not think that it is that we want riots in our streets and demonstrators protesting every government decision but we love our freedom of speech and our right to disagree.  The USA has a deep record of government protest back to “not taxation without representation.”  We could sidestep these verses by saying they were written to people who  like the Jews live under a kingship or a more totalitarian government.  Let’s not dismiss this though without thinking. We stand with some of the greats like Dietrich Bonhoffer, a Lutheran pacifist who had to grapple with his response to Hilter and a government that was doing wrong.  But before we get our feathers all kerfuffled, let us set up a little distance from a volatile topic of government protest by changing the question to asking ourselves about our responses to authority.

The Teacher’s first words of advice is to remember that our relationship to the authority we struggle with.  When we accept a job we know there will be bosses.  When we become parents we step into an authority position that someday will involve a tug of war with the wills between parents and children.  When we buy a car and take the driver’s test, we know there are laws.  There are stop lights and speed signs and we choose how to respond.  Obedience by it’s very nature does not depend on me liking what is asked of me but it is a confrontation with my will.  He sagely reminds us that “the man,” “the boss” has the power and the last word.  I remember the advice given to “pick your fights carefully.  Don’t spend all your social capital on trivia.”  

I am watching the Kenyan demonstrations going on over a tax bill passed this week that triggered massive demonstrations over the whole country.  Today the President “conceded” and said he will not pass the bill into law.  Wow.  He is picking his battles.  People were shot, though, demonstrating.  Authority is not always just nor fair but open confrontation with authority or government is dangerous and when we choose to resist, we must realize we are potentially facing consequences. 

  Maintaining relationship so there can be conversation is often a wiser choice.  The Teacher reasons that we do not know what tomorrow will bring and so patience and arbitration may be the needed approach.  The last verses point out that not only do we not know what tomorrow might bring if we can slow our roll and “count to ten,” or “sleep on it.”  The best decisions may not be made in the midst of an argument.  The Teacher could also add advice like – don’t jump to conclusions until you hear the other side of the argument, or talk to a wise person who is more neutral and can help you think through a dilemma,  or spend time in prayer.  I like to get in my car and drive to “my quiet spot” and sit and decompress, perhaps cry, or telephone a friend.

Authority is a reality of life.  Let us pray for our court system, our election coming up, for our leaders in churches and places of employment. Let us pray for those places in our world where there is open conflict and innocent people are caught in the cross fire.  Lord have mercy! Draw near to the oppressed and the struggling in crisis and conflict. Give us wisdom as we listen to the Presidential debates tonight.

27 “Look,” says the Teacher, “this is what I have discovered:

“Adding one thing to another to discover the scheme of things—

28  while I was still searching
    but not finding—
I found one upright man among a thousand,
    but not one upright woman among them all.

29 This only have I found:
    God created mankind upright,
    but they have gone in search of many schemes.”

Ecclesiastes 7:27-29

We finish chapter 7 of Ecclesiastes with the Teacher yet again pondering wisdom and folly.  He shares the bitterness of searching for faithfulness and loyalty in a people only to be disappointed.  He could barely find an upright person.   He laments that it is so easy to be ensnared by others as we search  in the wrong places.  All who have experienced divorce or broken promises and broken hearts know the pain of decisions made when we are blinded by passion in the search for real love.  In verse 29 the Teacher concludes that this is not the plan of God.  “God created mankind upright but they have gone in search of many schemes.”

It reminds me of the children’s song,

Leader:  God created people and said

Children:  They are good.

Leader:  God created flowers and said

Children:  They are good.

Leader:  Man created cars and 

Children: They broke.

So what are you searching for today?  What is the desire of your heart?  My heart is broken this evening as I watch the news reels from Kenya of the mass demonstrations and chaos about new proposed taxation .  We lived there for 25 years and experienced similar situations during elections.  The search for an affordable lifestyle is definitely a desire of many hearts.  I think of other countries engulfed in war.  On the flip side of the coin are the victory marches of the young and talented who have been chosen to represent their countries in the Olympics this year. The search for fame and glory is always with us.  We want our hard work and talents to be acknowledged.  Perhaps you enjoy watching the FB clips of AGT and other spin-offs of American Idol where undiscovered talent is applauded.  So what is your search?  Let’s take the word “search” and build an acrostic writing for each letter a word.  For example S is for security.

S is for ________

E is for ________

A is for ________

R is for ________

H is for ________

Let us spend a few moments praying over our desires but also praying for those who are caught in conflicts trying to make the wishes come true.  Lord have mercy.  Help us to be upright people.

21 Do not pay attention to every word people say,

    or you may hear your servant cursing you—

22 for you know in your heart

    that many times you yourself have cursed others.

Ecclesiastes 7: 21-22

The Teacher, probably KIng Solomon and author of Ecclesiastes, continues in chapter 7 to ponder wisdom.  These two verses grabbed my attention.  I do not know if you have dealt with teenagers determined that they know what is best or have had to deal with people trapped in addiction who can throw the most horrible words at you as they remember your history differently or perhaps you have just plain had one of those horrible fights with a significant other and all of a sudden your mouth is out of control and unkind words are said. I’m sure I have fallen into all three scenarios.  I reminded my daughter that I had indeed gone to the senior high school prom and she replied, “Oh mother, that was last century!”  One of my sons just chuckles when I share my wisdom and says, “Mom, you drink your kool-aid and I’ll drink mine.”  These situations we might be able to dismiss as youth but there are other times when I find myself with a group of friends who are sharing their opinions about a political figure or even a missing friend or leader and I find myself remaining silent or slanting my truth in their direction.  The desire for group acceptance can color remarks.

The Teacher speaks into these sort of scenarios and advises us not to take what we hear too seriously.  He has warned us against being quick to anger and about the potential power and danger of words.  He warns against dealing in gossip.  A new popular TV series, Bridgerton, zeroes in on the elite in British society as everyone reads Lady Whistledown’s Society Paper about who is doing what in the “coming out” seasons for young ladies.  The newspaper ties the series together as all are wondering who the writer is and how she gets her information.  The Teacher warns that our lives can become a roller coaster as we are elated when we think we are valued and deflated when we feel misunderstood.  Our focus needs to be on the continual message of God who does not change daily like Lady Whistledown.

As we go through this political season when truth seems so slippery and as we daily exchange words with loved ones and friends, may our conversations be positive and affirming, looking for the best possible construction for our responses.

The Teacher in verse 13-18 of chapter 7 of Ecclesiastes resumes his pondering about life and wisdom.  He calls us to consider.

13 Consider what God has done:

Who can straighten
    what he has made crooked?

14 When times are good, be happy;
    but when times are bad, consider this:
God has made the one
    as well as the other.
Therefore, no one can discover
    anything about their future.

15 In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these: the righteous perishing in their righteousness,
    and the wicked living long in their wickedness.
16 Do not be overrighteous,
    neither be overwise—
    why destroy yourself?

17 Do not be overwicked,
    and do not be a fool—
    why die before your time?
18 It is good to grasp the one
    and not let go of the other.
    Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.

We cannot predict the future.  Most of us have been T-boned by life at some point.  My husband died before me and yet he wanted to live to 100 and I was always told I would die young like my grandmother whom I was like.  Who would have predicted?  I am now reinventing myself as I face the future.  The stock market crashes or a recession enters and our saving shrink.  The routine tests by the doctor shows shadows.  The neighboring country invades ours and we are suddenly fleeing with our belongings on our backs. Tomorrow is not guaranteed.  The Teacher phrases it as if we are suddenly facing a crooked path that we thought was straight and we realize it is beyond our control and our understanding.  At crisis points like this we are faced with questions about the character of God.  How do we explain evil seeming to triumph when God has all power and cares for us?  The Teacher acknowledges that God has made good days and is with us in bad days.  Often though, his presence seems hidden.

Tough times challenge our faith.  We see good people, righteous people, people we care about and admire get hurt by life.  Young children die and women miscarry through no fault of their own. Meanwhile people who never acknowledged God or a higher power thrive and live to old age.  Wealth and long life does not necessarily favor “the good guys.”  I already feel cynicism clouding my thinking as I face the upcoming elections as “dirt” is thrown by all and wonderful promises are made by all candidates.

The Teacher advises finding a middle road and not tearing yourself apart by living in the extreme.  Hmmmm.  I do not think he is saying to avoid extreme sports nor is he encouraging not going hard after the desires of our heart.  Passion and convictions are important boundary guides on our journey.  But I do think the teacher is advising us to keep our focus and perspective.  Perhaps we are back to “turn, turn, turn” of chapter 3:1.  He advises we take a deep breath when faced with change, make time for more prayer and realize we do not see the whole picture of our lives nor of history.  That does not affirm evil but sometimes we need to remind ourselves that God will eventually bring justice as he says, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay says the Lord.”

Let us take a moment now and ask the Holy Spirit to shine its flashlight of truth on my soul and reveal if there are areas where we might be off center and need to be reminded to put the issue in God’s hands.  Let us pray for those who are truly fighting the battle with evil in the war zones, the environmentally challenged areas, facing medical challenges and for our upcoming elections.  Lord, have mercy and help us be agents of your peace.

 Psalm 107

Give Thanks to the Lord

by John Michael Talbot

Give Thanks To The Lord (Psalm 107)

Tomorrow’s Gospel text will focus on a time when the disciples were gripped with mortal fear.  They thought for sure they were going to drown in a storm.  Think of a time when you were truly scared.  Whether we are called upon to be involved in an environmental disaster, a violent attack, a near death experience or we have been with a loved one going through this, we know it is horrible.  Sweaty palms, high pulse rate and wild imaginings.

The interesting thing is that Jesus was asleep in the boat with the disciples.  He was there with them in the storm of life.    When they woke him “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He immediately calmed the storm with a word.

Jesus is in our boat.  The storms of our lives are not out of his realm of influence or awareness.  Let’s listen to the words today and thank God for his presence.

“Wisdom is a shelter

    as money is a shelter,

but the advantage of knowledge is this:

    Wisdom preserves those who have it.”

Ecclesiastes 7:12

The Teacher in chapter 7 of Ecclesiastes now looks at some factors that make the difference between how wisdom and wealth that both impact the direction of our lives are subtly different.  As he says in verse 12, both wisdom and money are shelters we can run to but that does not mean they are both meaningful.  They don’t both preserve our lives.

• extortion leads to foolishness and bribery corrupts in, both are a means to wealth but both do not truly shelter v.7
• End results accomplished are a better shelter than dreams and visions of success at the start v.8
• the flash of anger from a provocation leads to foolish decisions that destroy our shelter v.9
• Nostalgia for the past and impatience for the future both lead to dissatisfaction with our present shelter v.10

What ties these ideas together?

The first African proverb we were taught our first day in Swahili language school when we arrived in Kenya was, “Haraka, haraka haina baraka.”  It can be translated, “Hurry, hurry, has no blessing.”  My mother taught us a similar proverb as children, “A stitch in time saves nine.”  I think the Teacher is referring to the temptation to short sheet the present to force, or “help,” us get to where we want to go in the future.

Extortion and bribery are ways we try to force another or perhaps our hearts to apply pressure to our souls to convince us that cutting corners will get us to our dream.  Fudging on the income tax is ok because we are not part of the “rich” who live in a better house.  Agreeing to extended debt so we can “keep up” and get that better job or house or life draws us into taking on a burden we are not sure we can carry and that may easily lead to financial chaos.  My young teenagers used to try to convince me that they would have gotten their first million by the time they were 30.  That dream of the future grew discontent with their present.  Frustration leads to anger and then the mouth is out of control.  Yes, quickly, quickly can lead to problems.  The Teacher says patience is better than the pride that focuses on visions of who we think we might be.  Patience comes from realizing God is the unseen being walking with us through the challenges in the present.

So let us think for a moment about what frustrations are the quick sand in our day. What draws us to discontent and anger.  Perhaps it is the interruptions that slow us down like that little ole driver in front of us.  Perhaps it is when someone we respect disagrees with us.  Perhaps it is a detour as we head to our goal, be it work or weight loss.  I could mention those speed zones where an unseen authority might lurk. We all deal with frustrations and road blocks to our “I wants.”

The Teacher would say wisdom of realizing God holds our life is the attitude that “preserves” our life, not the wealth in our bank account.  Lord, I am afraid to pray for patience because I don’t want lessons that force me to learn the lesson.  May our hearts be aware of you as the unseen partner in our lives.

“The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,

    but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.”

Ecclesiastes 7: 4

Chapter 7 of Ecclesiastes opens with some thought provoking opposites.  The author, the Teacher, whom many believe to be King Solomon compares: 

•  a good name to good perfume, 
• funerals to parties, 
• frustration to laughter, and 
• rebuke from a wise person to empty praise of a fool.  

At first glance we might choose the wonderful smell of perfume wafting through the air or going to a party or laughter or to hear words of affirmation.  We want to be loved, valued and affirmed. I should hear an “amen” here.  We want our faith to lead us to health, wealth, and prosperity – the good life.  The Teacher challenges us.

Perfume can be bought for a price – by the wealthy, but a good name, good character, or a good reputation cannot be   bought.  All people can receive a good recommendation for a life well lived or a job well done, even if they cannot buy expensive perfume.  Truly a good name is not something for the moment but for all time and places, sending ripples through life as a rock thrown in a pond.  May our name be remembered for our godly character based on our faith!

Funerals are times of serious reflection and very different from party frivolity. My husband would say funerals are “deep,” sharing memories of good deeds,  appreciation for the impact to our life paths due to the influence of the other, and times of hugging and reunion with people we have not seen for awhile.  I remember birthday parties as a child and hating the tie a balloon around your ankle and try and stomp your friend’s balloon.  I hated the loud bangs and the shoving.  I remember parties as a young adult agonizing over if I would avoid the spiked punch. At funerals, amidst the tears, memories of blessings and affirmation of relationships are shared.  Funerals can lead us to reflect on the hand of God in our lives and that happens for all people, not just the wealthy.

Frustration and laughter…hum.  Frustration forces me to grow as I seek to deal with a challenge.  Laughter is for the moment.  Rebuke verses empty praise.  No one likes to be corrected but no one likes to be deceived either.  I value my friends who will shoot straight from the hip and tell me what I need to hear.

The Teacher leaves us with an image,

Like the crackling of thorns under the pot,

    so is the laughter of fools.

    This too is meaningless. 

Ecclesiastes 7:6

Lord, we pray today for wise friends who speak to us in truth, who remember our character formed in the trials of life and who offer words of affirmation when we die.  We do not want to be perfume floating in the air for an evening nor quick burning thorns in the fires of life.  May our character reflect you.  Help us to not choose that which is meaningless.

In Chapter 6 of Ecclesiastes, the Teacher, whom many consider to be King Solomon, now turns to comparing a dissatisfied life of a wealthy person to the inexperienced life of a stillborn child.  The wealthy person who has been blessed with goods does not enjoy them and he might have a vast family but then at the point of death, he does not receive a proper burial.  The Teacher concludes that this person is no better than a stillborn child who never experienced the struggles of life but will experience eternity.  Certainly for many good life is measured by the size of family and the size of wealth. We all, if pushed to the wall, would probably  consider the triple digit income more desirable than welfare.

 The Teacher, though, is talking about someone who would have been considered wealthy by Old Testament standards.  The book of Job is a lesson for all of us as we see his wealth and family wiped out.  Friends arrive to grieve with him and engage in a conversation about the causes of suffering.  I suppose the unwritten story behind blessings of the wealthy is that this person managed wealth wisely and was a good provider for the large family.  In  Kenya where poligamy was practiced, it was not uncommon to hear that someone was the 27th child and a child of the third wife.  Children were needed to care for the cattle and the fields.  Poligamony was ok.  Besides this, all citizens were considered the children of the President or King.  I was once severely reprimanded when I asked a woman in the village how many children she had.  The room became silent as it was explained to me that children were a gift from God and you would not ask an American how much money was in their bank account and you DO NOT ask how many children a woman has. It might be similar to King David sending Joab to count how many eligible soldiers David had in his kingdom.  So again the Teacher is not speaking to size of wealth but to the ability to appreciate and be satisfied.

The phrase that caught my eye in reading and rereading this chapter was the phrase that the wealthy person “does not receive a proper burial.”  I’ve noticed on my return to the States that many of my aging friends are in groups that have “a memorial service” when a loved one dies, whereas I am part of a group that has “a funeral service,” with open mic during the reception for people to share fond memories.  I think there is no right or wrong way to do this tradition.  But I do think it raises the question of asking ourselves how we would like to be remembered when that day comes.  Do we want our orbituary to read like our resume?  Or what character traits would we like our friends and family to remember about us?  Let’s take a moment and write down three characteristics we would like our life to be remembered for.

Lord, help us to continue to grow in these areas and to value the relationships we have more than the tasks we seek to accomplish.  May we have an attitude of gratitude for your blessings. 

The Teacher finishes chapter 5 of Ecclesiastes by looking further into the some of the quagmires of wealth.  He has said that with the blessing of wealth can come the problem of sleepless nights due to worry and the hunt for that “one more dollar” to be satisfied.  Now he notes that many who accumulate wealth may pile it up not knowing what financial challenges may be in the future.  But then the stock market crashes, recession, war or any number of unexpected crises enter and that wealth for the future is eaten by the need of the present.  We might glibly say, “You can’t take it with you.”  We are born naked and we die naked.  The Teacher calls this “a grievous evil”.  That which we work so hard to accumulate we may never get to enjoy nor will to others.  That tension between having enough to be comfortable and having a buffer for the future is a hard balancing act.  He is looking at the ups and downs of life and not the circles of life.

In Chapter 3:13 we saw that the Teacher talked about when all of us are faced with the circles of life, turn-turn-turn, that the “gift of God” is the ability to find satisfaction in our toil.  He ends chapter 5:18 with the same conclusion.

  18 This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. 

The cycles of life can lead us to feel like we are running on a treadmill with the hamster.  On the treadmill we experience the ups and downs of life in our endless task of having enough wealth to make life work.  It can defeat us also.  So what is the secret?

  I notice that in each conclusion, the Teacher uses the phrase “God has given” or “ God gives.”  The ability to appreciate the “giftedness” of life is important.  Others may not appreciate our talents, our assets, or our point of view but gauging the success of my life on the reactions of others is like riding a roller coaster.  The Teacher is clear that ultimately there is a God walking with us through the events of our lives, running beside us on the treadmill that turn, turn, turns and riding with us as our boats navigate the waves and hurricanes life sends us.  

Let’s use the image of the wave to represent the ups and downs we face.  When events are leading us to new highs, what might we praise God for?  When events seem to be sending us crashing what sort of prayer do we need to generate?  Ask the Holy Spirit if there is someone you might pray for today as that person faces the ups and downs of life.

The Teacher in the second half of Ecclesiastes 5 now turns his wisdom to pondering corruption.  It is not surprising, he concludes that all levels of the food chain favor the rich on top and create the poor on the bottom as each level of responsibility takes their “cut.” That is life for sure. He laments,

“Whoever loves money never has enough;
    whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.
    This too is meaningless.”

As goods increase,
    so do those who consume them.
And what benefit are they to the owners
    except to feast their eyes on them?

The sleep of a laborer is sweet,
    whether they eat little or much,
but as for the rich, their abundance
    permits them no sleep.”

  Ecclesiastes 5: 10-12

Did I hear an “amen” sighed?  Somehow the end of the month that brings in the bills is always challenging as we consider the scales balancing our assets and deficits, not to mention the bills we anticipate for the future – college for kids, medical, house payments and hopefully a restful vacation. 

Corruption, the Teacher concludes is meaningless, as our “wants” always exceed our “haves.”  Focusing ourselves on those who are “richer” than ourselves always leads to dissatisfaction.  So what does give us a good nights sleep as that is possible for the rich and the poor? We can all sleep peacefully but many don’t.  I would suggest the reason for poor sleep rests in our ability to rest our cares in the hand of God.  How?  I have heard that one way is having a notepad by our bed and if our minds keep chewing on our favorite topics of concern, be that worries or grudges, write it on the pad, like an email to the “boss.”  Another person said they keep a box by their bed and they lock that paper in the box for safe keeping til tomorrow.  I start praying for my kids, grandkids, friends, people facing problems and suddenly I’ve relaxed been sleeping.

When my daughter was 5 months old I used to walk with her and lament my loss of sleep.  My neighbor had a tiny baby and was walking our porch.  I introduced myself and asked how old his tiny tot was.  I was shocked to learn the baby had a chromosome defect and needed to be fed all the time so he and his wife took turns walking with the little tyke.  He shared that he had learned that it didn’t matter really how much sleep he got but what he did with those hours of care.  Worry drained them.  I have never forgot.

I love Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
    he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.