I attended a dinner party filled with bright, educated, intelligent folks from many beliefs, faiths, races, cultures, and languages. As always, I returned home a richer man from the laughter, conversations, and food. Oh, those folks know how to feast!
Toward the night's end, I was invited to join a side conversation. One man shared a photo with a few of us showing the Earth taken by an exploration satellite. It had traveled many years from the Earth, and the lens was turned such that it was looking back at a tiny, beautiful blue spec with total blackness as a backdrop. It was a mesmerizing photograph.
The person who shared the image read from an article that accompanied it. The gist of that piece asserted that all of mankind’s lifetimes, activities, pettiness, wars, religions, work, etc., were/are pointless. We are a “small and insignificant planet,” and the sum of our existence in the universe is insignificant and "meaningless.”
He asked for the thoughts of a friend seated next to him. I listened eagerly as he began to quote what sounded like a text from Ecclesiastes (since his lineage and religion suggested he might). He began his response with “meaningless.” But he never made it to Solomon’s conclusions. In ancient times, he might have felt more comfortable in the company of the Sadducees, except that he was “pretty sure” there was no God. As it was late, I excused myself, thanked my host for including me, and headed back home for the night.
The following week, I meditated on that conversation and the meaning of “meaningless.” I looked up “Meaningless” in a thesaurus, something I highly recommend for the reader. Finally, I asked God to teach me the intended lesson from what I’d heard and stopped obsessing about it.
I decided to stock up on my favorite Starbucks coffee the next day. A caring friend texted me later to let me know it was on the shelves for a limited time! While standing at checkout, the lady at the counter asked if I really liked it. I wondered if she’d ever tried it. “I don’t care for coffee,” she smiled. I laughed! “You work at Starbucks, and you don’t like coffee?” She prefers tea. Then she held up her hand and smiled again, “Hang on a second; we have one more pound in the house.” Before I could say anything—like, “I don’t want to spend…” she interrupted, “Employees are allowed to have a free pound of coffee, and I want to give you my free pound.”
I was dumbfounded. I’d never seen her before. Where was the meaning? Well, I know where kindness comes from. I blessed her. And, yes, I will share that extra package of Casi Cielo!
Over the weekend, I attended an aunt's graveside funeral. An uncle, cousins, friends, and my sister and brother were there. Not far from my aunt’s grave, my parents now rest. As I stood over their headstone, a question came to mind: “Gary, do you believe their lives were meaningless? You know they’re great-grandparents now.” NO! Anyway, if their lives were meaningless, I wondered what that might say about me.
My aunt’s service underscored her life of hardship, yet she also possessed the gift of laughter. She, too, was a great-grandmother—something I believe is given as a blessing only from the hand of God.
Afterward, we invaded the local Longhorn Steak House, and I enjoyed the laughter and fellowship of my family—again, blessings given to me by the hand of God right in front of me.
Life may APPEAR to be meaningless sometimes. But what if life is more than what it seems to be?
The answers to thoughtful questions we are wise enough to give to God are abundantly clear and often quite humbling. He showed me through my everyday life that he not only exists but will reward anyone who seeks him. He always gives more than we ask and abundantly beyond what we could ever imagine. He can make the meaningless have rich meaning (like a friend caring enough to look out for you or a stranger offering a delicious cup of fine coffee if you prefer quality coffee), and he'll demonstrate how he can even turn mourning into a party filled with laughter!
Remember, Solomon’s conclusion “after everything was considered” was that WITHOUT THE HAND OF GOD, life would have no meaning. It would be as meaningless as running around in circles chasing the wind.
Today, I am calm and still, whispering to God my thanks for every single person, place, and thing the hand of God has placed in my life.
Copyright August 2024, Gary Landerfelt, MyPericope.com
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