Have you ever felt annoyed that you have to wash dishes that are just going to get dirty again? Husband and I avoid that feeling by continually reusing as many dishes as possible for as long as possible.
But that's not really my point.
As good as food is, have you ever felt annoyed that you're going to have to eat again in a few hours? Okay, maybe that's not the best example either. I'm usually glad that I get to eat so often.
Ecclesiastes says what I'm trying to express:
Why is so much of this life so cyclical and seemingly pointless? We clean things that get dirty again, fill things that soon become empty, and leave only to return. The sun comes up only to go down, plants grow to die to grow back again, the weather warms only to grow cold once more.
We go to work to make money to pay for life expenses to stay alive and healthy to ...go back to work again? Really?
Why?
What is the point? Husband and I have been asking this question for over a year now. We thought maybe being parents would be the point. While it is A point, it is not The Point.
Perhaps the cyclical and seemingly pointless design is intentional in order to encourage us to look for something more. While reading a book of missionary stories, I felt a little odd about the way I related to the convert who found Jesus due to a feeling of purposelessness that lead him to look for something more. I feel a lack of purpose, but I already know Jesus. Clearly I don't know him well enough.
My life is good. Too good, perhaps? The hardest part of my day is deciding what to make for dinner! I have a wonderful husband and a happy marriage; a beautiful, healthy daughter; a safe place to live; enough money to pay for everything we need; and family and friends nearby.
It seems so unfair to have it so good when there are people out there who are living in constant fear of war, who are literally dying of starvation or poisoning from unclean food/water, who are being abused or neglected by people who are supposed to love them. But what can I do? The world is so full of problems, it feels like anything I can offer would be a drop in the bucket. A drop in the bucket with a huge hole in the bottom. Plus how will I know whether I'm really helping or just enabling the problem?
To whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48). I have much.
Crap.
I have no idea what God is in the process of calling us to. But this feeling of needing to be about something more is obviously preparing us to be ready when he finally shows us what it is. It might be a simple attitude adjustment - Colossians 3:23 style. It might be big - pack up and move overseas style. Whatever it is, it will be better than this feeling of what.is.the.point.?!
But that's not really my point.
As good as food is, have you ever felt annoyed that you're going to have to eat again in a few hours? Okay, maybe that's not the best example either. I'm usually glad that I get to eat so often.
Ecclesiastes says what I'm trying to express:
"'Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless.'
Everything is meaningless.'
3 What do people gain from all their labors
at which they toil under the sun?
4 Generations come and generations go,
but the earth remains forever.
5 The sun rises and the sun sets,
and hurries back to where it rises."
at which they toil under the sun?
4 Generations come and generations go,
but the earth remains forever.
5 The sun rises and the sun sets,
and hurries back to where it rises."
Why is so much of this life so cyclical and seemingly pointless? We clean things that get dirty again, fill things that soon become empty, and leave only to return. The sun comes up only to go down, plants grow to die to grow back again, the weather warms only to grow cold once more.
We go to work to make money to pay for life expenses to stay alive and healthy to ...go back to work again? Really?
Why?
What is the point? Husband and I have been asking this question for over a year now. We thought maybe being parents would be the point. While it is A point, it is not The Point.
Perhaps the cyclical and seemingly pointless design is intentional in order to encourage us to look for something more. While reading a book of missionary stories, I felt a little odd about the way I related to the convert who found Jesus due to a feeling of purposelessness that lead him to look for something more. I feel a lack of purpose, but I already know Jesus. Clearly I don't know him well enough.
My life is good. Too good, perhaps? The hardest part of my day is deciding what to make for dinner! I have a wonderful husband and a happy marriage; a beautiful, healthy daughter; a safe place to live; enough money to pay for everything we need; and family and friends nearby.
It seems so unfair to have it so good when there are people out there who are living in constant fear of war, who are literally dying of starvation or poisoning from unclean food/water, who are being abused or neglected by people who are supposed to love them. But what can I do? The world is so full of problems, it feels like anything I can offer would be a drop in the bucket. A drop in the bucket with a huge hole in the bottom. Plus how will I know whether I'm really helping or just enabling the problem?
To whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48). I have much.
Crap.
I have no idea what God is in the process of calling us to. But this feeling of needing to be about something more is obviously preparing us to be ready when he finally shows us what it is. It might be a simple attitude adjustment - Colossians 3:23 style. It might be big - pack up and move overseas style. Whatever it is, it will be better than this feeling of what.is.the.point.?!
Comments
Post a Comment