For Reading and Meditation:
     Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

If education, intellectualism and philosophy are not the routes to making life work – then what is? Perhaps life can be found in pleasure. Not so, says Solomon. Pleasure pleases, but it is powerless to quench the ache that exists in the soul. We are provided with a list of the ways in which pleasure can be gained, but all of them are given the “thumbs down” by Solomon. The first is laughter. Send in the clowns. But as almost everyone knows, those who bring laughter to thousands are themselves often desperately unhappy. Billy Graham told the story of a man who went to a doctor for help with his depression. “I’ll give you something better than anti-depressants,” said the doctor. “Go and see the clown at the local circus. He has just arrived in town and is sending people into hysterics.” The man looked at the doctor dolefully and said, “I am the clown.” If laughter cannot satisfy, then perhaps drink will help. “I tried cheering myself with wine,” Solomon tells us … but clearly that did not satisfy either. He then threw himself into a round of activity – great projects like building a house for himself, planting vineyards, amassing silver and gold, and finally equipping himself with a harem – what he describes as “the delights of the heart of man” (v. 8). But did these things work? Here’s his conclusion: “everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind” (v. 11). He is not saying, of course, that these things didn’t bring pleasure. He is making the point that this kind of pleasure is ephemeral; it just does not last.

My Father and my God, I see I am shut up to You. Earth’s fountains are unable to quench the deep thirsts of my soul. To whom shall I go? Only You have the words of eternal life. I am so grateful. Thank You my Father. Amen.