What a weekend we had--got together for the afternoon with some new and old neighbors and we had a wonderful time. Everyone brought a dish and we all indulged in the tasty appetizers and sweets etc...etc...We are so blessed to have such great neighbors.We all come from different parts of the world and we bring such diversity and different cultures into the group, and yet as people we are the interconnected. The weather cooperated and we had a little sunshine and a little breeze as we enjoyed the outdoors, no rain! Our prayers were answered....
I would have to agree with King Solomon: enjoy life with your friends and family whenever you can, and eat, drink and be merry. Live happily with the spouse that God has given you, which is the best reward down here on earth, for all your earthly toils 9:9-10......Great advice and great comfort!
In Chapters 8 and 9, he continues to give us advice and admonitions. He tells us to do what we say we will do. Don't be mean or hurtful to others. Don't speak bad about anybody, because it will get back to them at some point. Don't try to get out of doing your duty even when it is unpleasant. In whatever you do, he says, do it well, because when we are gone there is no working, planning or understanding. Which brings me to his topic on 'death'. As far as death is concerned the righteous person has no advantage over the 'wicked'. People can live outrageous, crazy lives, and after that -- death. While we are alive it seems like God treats us all the same, and sometimes He treats 'bad' people as if they were 'good', and good people as if they were 'bad', and that really troubled King Solomon, and it troubles us as well (although it may look like people can get away by doing bad things, but their lives will not be peaceful). He wrote: when 'bad' people are buried they get praised in the very circle where they committed their 'crimes'. How odd! Their friends have forgotten all their evil deeds". That doesn't seem fair, does it? but it is true. We also may get upset over that.
I thought about it, and I realized, yes, of course, we praise the dead. We find the few things they did well and focus on that, instead of all the things they messed up with. But why not? What purpose would it be to give eulogy where you get up and talk about all the negative things. We do forget and forgive, because all of a sudden we realize the person is gone for ever and we miss them with all their faults and flaws. But then again doesn't God forgive us of all our imperfections? He doesn't keep score. If we truly repent and turn our ways, He welcomes us into his family. He is merciful, and why shouldn't we be the same? Actually, we should be forgiving all the time, and moving on, it is no point to keep grudges and dwell upon hurts.
As we observe in life, the best, strongest and most skillful don't always win the race or the battle, and wise men are often poor and not famous. Some things seem to happen by chance. You happen to be in the right place at the right time. Although wisdom is better than physical strengh, if the wise man is poor, he will not be appreciated and people will not pay attention to him---that is the world we live in. Unfortunately, under the world's standards we look at the outward, the facade, the perception of being wealthy, famous, good looking, successful, popular, well educated. We see it around us all the time. The people with the fancy cars, and beautiful homes and perfect marriages, only to find out they don't own their cars, they are loosing their homes, they are lonely and depressed and their marriages are falling apart.
So many questions and no answers..............
According to King Solomon, God has arranged things so that we cannot put all the parts of the puzzle together. No matter how hard we try and no matter how brilliant we may be, we will not be able to find answers to all the questions.
Untill next time, have a blessed week.
.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Part 8---Ecclesiastes
Here we are again....time sure flies..we just had a fun weekend at Holiday Traditions in Camarillo where we rented a booth, selling my book, Paws of Wisdom. We had a great turn out and met so many nice people. I have several Holiday Boutiques lined up until mid-December and I am looking forward to them all.
So, let's see where we left off last time. We were reviewing chapter 5 and 6. I am going to be short because I am going to watch the debate at 6PM, between President Obama and Mitt Romney.
Anyway, King Solomon, as always, keeps observing many of the inequities in life and it makes him sad as well as angry and puzzled. It seems like he keeps repeating a lot of the same things, which tells me that there was a lot of it, going on. It does not surprise me. Don't we see the same problems in our world today? Isn't that what we keep complaining about too and want to fix? If some things have not changed over the centuries, then why are we so angry? Why do we keep fighting the same battles over and over, with seemingly little results?
In chapter 6, verse 10 he makes a startling remark. He says: "all things are decided by fate; it was known long ago what each man would be. So, there is no use arguing with God about your destiny".
In other words, the more we complain the more we are wasting our time. In these few days of empty lifetime, who can say how we should spend our lives and what the future holds? Who can know the future? Even he, who had everything and all the wisdom, could not figure it all out . Some things don't seem fair and the world seems to be upside down!
Chapter 7......Here, he starts off by saying that a GOOD REPUTATION (capital letters for emphasis) is more valuable than the most expensive perfume. He goes on giving us many contrasts and a lot of different things to think about. Some may seem a little odd, until you really start analyzing what he is trying to say. For Example:
1) The day one dies is better than the day he is born........(some people have endured many
challenges in their lives, and they wish they had not been born-not that it is a good thing
to think that way, but I have heard people say that!)
2) It is better to spend your time at funerals than at festivals-for you are going to die and
it is a good thing to think about it while there is still time...Don't you find that to be true?
When I attend a funeral, I am forced to reflect upon my own life and what it's all about.
As I sit still listening to the sermon or the friends and family talk, I realize how short
life really is and what would I want others to say about me? What legacy would I leave
behind? What do I want people to remember about me? What is my purpose in this life?
Is there something I need to change? Is there somebody I need to forgive? Am I treating
people the way I should? If I died today, am I ready and where will I end up in eternity?
Do you ponder about such things?
3) Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on you. When we
laugh, it's great. We are enjoying ourselves. But, when we are sad, we look within
ourselves, evaluating the situation..................King Solomon continues by saying:
"Yes, a wise man thinks much of death, while the fool only thinks of having a good time
NOW"!
4) It is better to be criticized by a wise man than to be praised by a fool. I agree, because
a wise person will give you good advice and you can make a positive change, right?
He also says: However, a wise man can be turned into a fool by a bribe. How true!
Be careful of false praises and empty compliments. We all like them, but are they true?
5) Finishing is better than starting. That's true too. Many people have great ideas and start
projects, but how many finish? How many young people start college and drop out?
and not to mention, how many of us start a diet or an exercise program, or join a gym and
don't continue. When I am out and about promoting my book, Paws of Wisdom, I meet
many people who tell me they want to write a book. Some have started and are not
completing it, and others are too afraid to start. I always encourage them to start and
to finish. They will be so happy and proud of themselves, once they do.
Here are some more tidbits, and you can look them up yourselves for more details......
"Tackle each task that comes along, and if you fear God you can expect his blessing"
Don't fight the facts of nature. Enjoy prosperity whenever you can, and when hard times strike, realize that God gives one as well as the other, to realize that nothing is certain in life!
Have a blessed week!
So, let's see where we left off last time. We were reviewing chapter 5 and 6. I am going to be short because I am going to watch the debate at 6PM, between President Obama and Mitt Romney.
Anyway, King Solomon, as always, keeps observing many of the inequities in life and it makes him sad as well as angry and puzzled. It seems like he keeps repeating a lot of the same things, which tells me that there was a lot of it, going on. It does not surprise me. Don't we see the same problems in our world today? Isn't that what we keep complaining about too and want to fix? If some things have not changed over the centuries, then why are we so angry? Why do we keep fighting the same battles over and over, with seemingly little results?
In chapter 6, verse 10 he makes a startling remark. He says: "all things are decided by fate; it was known long ago what each man would be. So, there is no use arguing with God about your destiny".
In other words, the more we complain the more we are wasting our time. In these few days of empty lifetime, who can say how we should spend our lives and what the future holds? Who can know the future? Even he, who had everything and all the wisdom, could not figure it all out . Some things don't seem fair and the world seems to be upside down!
Chapter 7......Here, he starts off by saying that a GOOD REPUTATION (capital letters for emphasis) is more valuable than the most expensive perfume. He goes on giving us many contrasts and a lot of different things to think about. Some may seem a little odd, until you really start analyzing what he is trying to say. For Example:
1) The day one dies is better than the day he is born........(some people have endured many
challenges in their lives, and they wish they had not been born-not that it is a good thing
to think that way, but I have heard people say that!)
2) It is better to spend your time at funerals than at festivals-for you are going to die and
it is a good thing to think about it while there is still time...Don't you find that to be true?
When I attend a funeral, I am forced to reflect upon my own life and what it's all about.
As I sit still listening to the sermon or the friends and family talk, I realize how short
life really is and what would I want others to say about me? What legacy would I leave
behind? What do I want people to remember about me? What is my purpose in this life?
Is there something I need to change? Is there somebody I need to forgive? Am I treating
people the way I should? If I died today, am I ready and where will I end up in eternity?
Do you ponder about such things?
3) Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on you. When we
laugh, it's great. We are enjoying ourselves. But, when we are sad, we look within
ourselves, evaluating the situation..................King Solomon continues by saying:
"Yes, a wise man thinks much of death, while the fool only thinks of having a good time
NOW"!
4) It is better to be criticized by a wise man than to be praised by a fool. I agree, because
a wise person will give you good advice and you can make a positive change, right?
He also says: However, a wise man can be turned into a fool by a bribe. How true!
Be careful of false praises and empty compliments. We all like them, but are they true?
5) Finishing is better than starting. That's true too. Many people have great ideas and start
projects, but how many finish? How many young people start college and drop out?
and not to mention, how many of us start a diet or an exercise program, or join a gym and
don't continue. When I am out and about promoting my book, Paws of Wisdom, I meet
many people who tell me they want to write a book. Some have started and are not
completing it, and others are too afraid to start. I always encourage them to start and
to finish. They will be so happy and proud of themselves, once they do.
Here are some more tidbits, and you can look them up yourselves for more details......
- Patience is better than pride
- Don't be quick tempered-that is being a fool
- Don't long for the "good old days" (what yo have today,or in the futuremay be better)
- Don't eavesdrop (you may hear something you don't want to hear)
- There is not a single person in all the earth who is always good and never sins. Although God has made man upright, each has turned away to follow his own downward road..............
"Tackle each task that comes along, and if you fear God you can expect his blessing"
Don't fight the facts of nature. Enjoy prosperity whenever you can, and when hard times strike, realize that God gives one as well as the other, to realize that nothing is certain in life!
Have a blessed week!
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