This is the third installment on Solomon's views of this world "under the Sun." A final word is in order concerning the introduction. We did not say a lot about verse eleven of chapter 1. "No one remembers the former events, nor will anyone remember the future events that are yet to happen, they will not be remembered by the future generations. (NET). A rather somber view of history. Does anyone reading this know their great grand parents? What were their names? Who won the Baseball world series last year? Five years ago? Who won the Superbowl last year? As Bob Hays said: "If winning the Superbowl is so great why do they play it every year?" Who was the 22nd president of the United States? Life is transitory. Past and even future events are only remembered in history books and by those who experienced them. Experience the present wisely I think will be Solomon's advice to us.

This ends the introduction to the book. It is an introduction that appeals to the senses. He has built an emotional dryness into the reader by metaphorically talking about wind, water cycles and historical amnesia.

Now Solomon turns to the gaining of knowledge. Certainly the wisest man who ever lived should be able to figure life out right? The words used here are not the words for wisdom but the gaining of knowledge either physical or mental knowledge. This was even prior to the rise of the Greek's pursuit of knowledge. Solomon came to the conclusion that life is futile "empty" like the wind. Inquiring into life from the standpoint of gaining facts is insufficient. There is no connection.

There is no value in accomplishments. They are long forgotten. The problem that Solomon presents here though is that while accomplishments are futile it doesn't mean that they are "unimpactful" Life's choices and events do have an impact. Solomon uses a literary device here where he intentionally shrouds the meaning of "What is crooked cannot be straightened." He waits to elaborate on it until Chapter 7. The point is that there are certain things that happen in life that cannot be changed. When Solomon says that what is missing cannot be supplied he is speaking of quantity. Things that you miss in life are very hard to make up later in life. It may be love, uconditional acceptance, attachment or the amenities that make life either bearable or their absence makes it traumatic.

When we struggle with addiction and compulsivity there are sometimes things that we have missed. That we continue to miss--Love and nuture. addiction and compulsive behaviors are there to provide an illusion of nuture and love. The fact that they present us with powerlessness tells us how powerful they are. When we attempt to "think" about life we find that it is futile, vaporlike-empty. Thinking about the addiction and compulsivity does not solve it. Many of those who struggle with addiction have had many successes in life. One man relayed this quote to me concerning his struggle with addiction and compulsivity. Alexander the great was to have said after his defeat of Darius king of Persia " It is far better for a man to master himself than to conquer all of Asia." Success can be fleeting Solomon has done a good job of mking us view it that way. Our time is up for today. So until next time: Keep coming back it works if you work it and your're worth it.