The Wisdom of Ecclesiastes: The Wisdom of Age

Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.
Even those who live many years should rejoice in them all; yet let them remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.
Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Follow the inclination of your heart and the desire of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.
Banish anxiety from your mind, and put away pain from your body; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity. ~ Ecclesiastes 11:7-10


God makes meaning out of meaninglessness. ~ Michael Gungor
Or you could say: youth and the dawn of life are meaningless.
Are vapor.
They are here. Present.
And then they are not.
And you could look at that as terrifying, or, as the teacher chides the reader, you could let anxiety about that be banished from your mind.
It simply is.
And that's not meant to be terrifying.
If anything, it perhaps is liberating.
All of that that fades away: youth, pleasure, pain, age, joy is meaningless until God takes a hold of it and drives meaning right through the heart of it.
God takes pain and brings growth.
God takes suffering and creates humility.
God takes both youth and age and brings about wisdom.
What today are you fearful of losing?
What today seems meaningless to you?
A vanity? Vapor.
Look again and see what meaning God is giving it!

Prayer: God of mystery and meaning, open my heart and eyes to what is before me so that as it slips away, I am ready to grasp on and go where you lead me next! Amen

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