This is the last week of postings so we will attempt to conclude with what we have set out to do. This has been an attempt to explore the ancient biblical book of Ecclesiastes as it applies to people who suffer from addictive and compulsive behaviors. As I have so often stated, I come at this from an orthodox evangelical point of view but have attempt[ted to broaden its application to all faiths and make it applicable to those within the twelve step community. To that end I hope it has been helpful.
This week we look at Ecclesiastes 12:9-14, verse 9 states: "Not only was the Teacher wise, but also he imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs." (Ecc 12:9 NIV) This appears to be an editorial comment stating what the author of Ecclesiastes did. He was wise, he taught wisdom and he collected wisdom. This appears to be true from what we know of the wisdom literature of the Bible. Some portions of Proverbs was adapted of Egyptian wisdom literature. Certain portions of The Song of Solomon are Egyptian waisf poems.
Verse 10 states: "The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true." (Ecc 12:10 NIV) The commentator or editor here states that the teacher searched to find the wright words certainly he tried. Did he succeed? Many times they were troublesome and enigmatic causing one to mull over and ponder life from various aspects. What he wrote was upright and true from the aspect of the covenant of his God.
Verse 11 says: "The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails--given by one Shepherd." (Ecc 12:11 NIV) These two statements are similar parallelisms. Goads are sharp sticks used to prod cattle and other large domesticated animals. the use of sharply embedded nails could refer to the end of the goad. Proverbs are designed to work like that. They produce discomfort so that you will move along the path of life and make progress.
Verse 12 states: "Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body." (Ecc 12:12 NIV) This verse has been used by students over the years to ward off the excesses of studying. The "My Son" motif is quite common in ancient near eastern literature. It stands first for the mentoring of as son by the father and then a genre of literature that is a form of teaching literature. The editor I think is stating that beyond the collection of proverbs other knowledge is quite useless. If you look at the development of the Semitic body of knowledge and culture and the Greek body of knowledge and culture you see that they are quite different.
The editor begins the final emphasis here: "Having heard everything, I have reached this conclusion: Fear God and keep his commandments, because this is the whole duty of man." (Ecc 12:13 NET) He carries it on with the following verse.
"For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." (Ecc 12:14 NIV) We have certainly seen these things happen in this book. We have seen that good things happen to good people bad things happen to bad people bad things happen to good people good things happen to bad people uncertainties happen all the time. This is not the first time that Solomon or the editor has directed us to "fear God"(3:14, 5:7, 7:18, 8:12). But it is a fitting climax. Regardless of how life circumstances turn out this becomes the defining rule. God judges these these.
My life has been a series of ups and downs. every circumstance, every perceived blow, every perceived blessing, every person, male or female, apparently good or bad have all contributed to my growths or downfalls and my ultimate maturity. Proverbs says: "for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity." (Pro 24:16 NIV) That's more my life. Somewhere in this past year in this blog, I have likened my life not to the beautiful tapestry that looks beautiful on one side but looks like a a bunch of strings on the other, but to the rug made with rags. I have waited about six months to use this illustration. of Cal Rogers so here it goes.
Calbraith Perry ("Cal") Rodgers, an inexperienced 32-year-old pilot, in 1911 made the first transcontinental flight across the United States. He reached Pasadena, California, on November 5, 1911, and Long Beach, California, on December 10, flying between Sheepshead Bay, near New York City, New York, and the West Coast in a Wright EX biplane. He carried the first transcontinental mail pouch and was accompanied on the ground by a support crew that repaired and rebuilt the plane after its numerous rough landings and crashes
Rodgers was the grandson of the famed Commodore Oliver Perry of the Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812. He was an excellent football player, yachtsman, and automobile and motorcycle racer before becoming a pilot, all in spite of deafness that resulted from a childhood bout of scarlet fever. Somewhat of a risk-taker, Rogers had taken only about 90 minutes of flying instruction from Orville Wright in June 1911, at the Wright School in Dayton, Ohio, before attempting a solo flight. He carried out the first aerial photography of industrial plants and in August 1911, won an $11,000 prize in an international air endurance contest held in Chicago. He also was the first private citizen to purchase a Wright "aeroplane," a long-wing biplane Model B that was modified for his transcontinental flight and designated a Wright Flyer EX (for Experimental).
The $50,000 prize that renowned publisher William Randolph Hearst offered to the first pilot to fly across the United States within 30 days undoubtedly helped motivate Rodgers to tackle this formidable challenge. Air flight was new to the nation. There were no airports or aircraft mechanics along the way and no air navigation maps, control towers or beacons to warn of hazards or guide the pilot. Rodgers would have to follow railroad tracks, recognize landmarks, and talk with his ground crew during periods on the ground. Also, the venture would be expensive, and Rodgers needed a sponsor.
J. Ogden Armour, a Chicago meat packer, was willing to sponsor Rodgers in return for advertising his new grape soft drink "Vin Fiz." Rodgers printed Vin Fiz on the rudder and under-wing areas of the plane, and Armour paid him three to five dollars for each mile flown, providing a total of $23,000. Armour also provided and outfitted a three-car support train, which would prove vital to Rodgers' success. This train was loaded with a crew, including his wife, his mother, a close friend, two mechanics, and two assistants as well as supplies, fuel, repair parts to rebuild the plane, and even spare engines. One car had a much-needed repair shop, and the crew had the capability to rebuild the aircraft at least twice if necessary. All cars advertised the sponsor's product--Vin Fiz.
The Wright brothers' biplane that Rodgers flew was made with relatively light materials: a spruce airframe that was covered with canvas and linen and a small 35-horsepower (26-kilowatt) engine. The plane had two eight-foot (2.4-meter) push-propellers driven by a chain-drive transmission and could fly at 45 to 60 miles per hour (72 to 97 kilometers per hour). The Vin Fiz had no instruments, other than the reported use of a shoelace to indicate vertical and lateral motion, no heater, and no navigational aids. But with what proved to be considerable foresight, Rodgers had crutches strapped to a wing.
Rogers took off from Sheepshead Bay, New York, at 4:30 p.m. on September 17, 1911. He followed railroad tracks and avoided mountains, storms, and other hazards. Along the way, he landed around 70 times, which included at least 16 crashes some that put him in the hospital. Damage to the Vin Fiz was so extensive that the plane had to be rebuilt at least twice. Only a very few pieces of the original Vin Fiz made it all the way a vertical rudder, a couple of wing struts, and possibly the original engine oil pan.
Forty-nine days later, on November 5, Rodgers landed in Pasadena, California, He had missed Hearst's deadline by 19 days. So that he could say he had reached the Pacific Ocean, he took off again on November 12, to cover the remaining 20 miles (32 kilometers) to the ocean, only to be forced down twice, once suffering a broken ankle. But on December 10, 1911, he flew on to the beach at Long Beach, California, and taxied the Vin Fiz into the Pacific Ocean. The entire trip of approximately 4,000 miles (6,437 kilometers) (authorities differ on the exact number of miles) had taken 84 days, although only about 82 hours were spent aloft!
Rodgers' determination and thorough preparation for the flight enabled him to be the first to make his way across the country by air, even though he missed the time deadline for the $50,000.00 prize.
The public recognized his triumph over life-threatening challenges. The number of onlookers grew from a handful of people wishing him well at his initial takeoff, to newspaper reporters and crowds cheering him on as he crossed the continent, all the way to national celebrity status, with some 20,000 witnessing his November 5 landing in Pasadena.
But as was the case with so many early pilots, tragedy struck. Almost five months later, on April 3, 1912, while making a test flight in Long Beach, near the site of the end of his record-setting flight, he flew into a flock of birds--a problem still facing aviators today. One bird, probably a seagull, was believed to have stuck in his plane's controls, causing the plane to crash into the surf. When pulled from the wreckage, Cal Rodgers was dead of a broken neck.
quoted in its entirety from The U.S. Centennial Flight Commission
http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Explorers_Record_Setters_and_Daredevils/Vin_Fiz/EX6.htm
This is how I feel. The journey has hardly been what I thought it would be. I am not at the end yet. But certainly it is not what I thought it would be. Like Cal, I, we must have a huge support team around us. There are and will be crashes and we have to put ourselves back together. Solomon urges us at just the right moments in this book when he paints the bleakest pictures to accept and embrace the promises of God and find meaning in the God who contains meaning above the sun for us who "live under the sun."
What does this mean for those who suffer for addiction and compulsivity? if you are not in recovery. if you have not embraced sobriety. I urge you to to do wo now. addiction is a self diagnosed desease. Enter the recovery community. It will be a whole new way of life. Do something intentional everyday for your recovery. Deboroah Hazelton says: "Temptations are invitations to help me make sure I am serious about my desires and expectations. I won’t settle for less." I hope that those of you who read this blog this year found it helpful. I fhound it helpful in guiding my life and finding direction for myself. Thanks for taking the time to read it. God's blessing to you all.
Sorry this didn't get published December 31 2009. Tough day. here it is now. This blog will be temporarily suspended. Probably to be picked up in 2011.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
The Solomon Project:Ecclesiastes 12:3-8
For the rationale for this blog see earlier blogs. We will pick up at 12:3 this week. Verse 12:2 is an excellent transition to the aging process of the human body and the experience of old age. The viewing of the environment may be in view here in verse 2.
"when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, when the grinders cease because they are few, and those looking through the windows grow dim;" (Ecc 12:3 NIV) The keepers refer to the self the human beings who inhabit their bodies. The house refers to the human body. strong men stooping refer to the effects of old age. grinders refers to the teeth and the lose of them because of old age and long use. "looking through the windows" refer to the lose of clarity of eye sight.
"when the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades; when men rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint;" (Ecc 12:4 NIV) The doors to the street closing refers to the loss of social interaction of the aging and the reclusiveness that sets in. the metaphor of the fading of the grinding refers to the societal interaction of the making of food. The rising at the sound of birds refers to the loss of the ability to sleep deeply. The fact the songs grow faint refers to the loss of hearing.
The author continues on. "when men are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets; when the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags himself along and desire no longer is stirred. Then man goes to his eternal home and mourners go about the streets." (Ecc 12:5 NIV) He talks about being afraid of heights and dangers in the streets, things that may not have ordinarily stirred fear in younger years. The blossoming of the Almond tree refers to the turning of the hair white and the metaphor of the grasshopper refers to the crippling of limbs in old age. Desire being stirred is a euphemism for sexual desire. Solomon states plainly of what he is speaking here that "man goes to his eternal home."
Solomon's point he is well taken here: "Remember him--before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or the wheel broken at the well," (Ecc 12:6 NIV) The author tells the reader to remember the living before he dies. He uses a series of metaphors to speak of death. the severing of the silver cord, the breaking of the golden bowl, the shattering of the pitcher, the breaking of the wheel, one having to do with holding things together, one having to do with holding things inside, one has to do with the value of the vessel itself, the wheel refers to activity.
"and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it." (Ecc 12:7 NIV) This refers to the Genesis account of the forming of Adam from the dust of the earth. Then he breathed into him the breathe of life.
""Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Everything is meaningless!"" (Ecc 12:8 NIV) The author ends this section with the lament of meaninglessness. the meaningless life ends in a meaningless death. This verse serves as a transition between this last section and the epilogue of the book.
What does this have to teach those of us who struggle with addiction and compulsivity? First of all those we do appreciate we need to tell as soon as possible. life is short. the struggle is long. the focus is inward. Ecclesiastes has taught us that if not anything else.
Secondly, amends made to living people will always work out better than an attempt to make them to those who have passed to the dust and the spirit to the God who gave it. Keep short account with those we are in relationship. Lets keep our resentments list short and make amends quickly. I had one that had to be done this week and when presented with the opportunity I got it done. I breathed a sigh of relief and slept well that night.
Thirdly, let us resolve to be ready to have that silver thread broken knowing that there is not another amends left to be made or another resent left to be resolved. life is to short to hold onto the poison of anger and resentment only to have it kill us more quickly.
Our time is up for today so until next time keep coming back it works if you work it and you're worth it.
"when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, when the grinders cease because they are few, and those looking through the windows grow dim;" (Ecc 12:3 NIV) The keepers refer to the self the human beings who inhabit their bodies. The house refers to the human body. strong men stooping refer to the effects of old age. grinders refers to the teeth and the lose of them because of old age and long use. "looking through the windows" refer to the lose of clarity of eye sight.
"when the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades; when men rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint;" (Ecc 12:4 NIV) The doors to the street closing refers to the loss of social interaction of the aging and the reclusiveness that sets in. the metaphor of the fading of the grinding refers to the societal interaction of the making of food. The rising at the sound of birds refers to the loss of the ability to sleep deeply. The fact the songs grow faint refers to the loss of hearing.
The author continues on. "when men are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets; when the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags himself along and desire no longer is stirred. Then man goes to his eternal home and mourners go about the streets." (Ecc 12:5 NIV) He talks about being afraid of heights and dangers in the streets, things that may not have ordinarily stirred fear in younger years. The blossoming of the Almond tree refers to the turning of the hair white and the metaphor of the grasshopper refers to the crippling of limbs in old age. Desire being stirred is a euphemism for sexual desire. Solomon states plainly of what he is speaking here that "man goes to his eternal home."
Solomon's point he is well taken here: "Remember him--before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or the wheel broken at the well," (Ecc 12:6 NIV) The author tells the reader to remember the living before he dies. He uses a series of metaphors to speak of death. the severing of the silver cord, the breaking of the golden bowl, the shattering of the pitcher, the breaking of the wheel, one having to do with holding things together, one having to do with holding things inside, one has to do with the value of the vessel itself, the wheel refers to activity.
"and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it." (Ecc 12:7 NIV) This refers to the Genesis account of the forming of Adam from the dust of the earth. Then he breathed into him the breathe of life.
""Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Everything is meaningless!"" (Ecc 12:8 NIV) The author ends this section with the lament of meaninglessness. the meaningless life ends in a meaningless death. This verse serves as a transition between this last section and the epilogue of the book.
What does this have to teach those of us who struggle with addiction and compulsivity? First of all those we do appreciate we need to tell as soon as possible. life is short. the struggle is long. the focus is inward. Ecclesiastes has taught us that if not anything else.
Secondly, amends made to living people will always work out better than an attempt to make them to those who have passed to the dust and the spirit to the God who gave it. Keep short account with those we are in relationship. Lets keep our resentments list short and make amends quickly. I had one that had to be done this week and when presented with the opportunity I got it done. I breathed a sigh of relief and slept well that night.
Thirdly, let us resolve to be ready to have that silver thread broken knowing that there is not another amends left to be made or another resent left to be resolved. life is to short to hold onto the poison of anger and resentment only to have it kill us more quickly.
Our time is up for today so until next time keep coming back it works if you work it and you're worth it.
Monday, December 7, 2009
The Solomon Project-- Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:2
The Solomon Project is a blog that attempts to apply the age-old biblical book of Ecclesiastes to addiction and compulsive behavior. While I come at the book from an evangelical perspective the thrust of the blog is an attempt to help those of all faiths come to terms with the issues facing people who suffer from these disorders. The author has much to tell us about life and how to live it.
In the last section Solomon encouraged us to embrace life for all it is worth in spite of the fact that we may not know everything. He urged us to seize the moment in our endeavors and pursue life with diligence and prudence.
"Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun. However many years a man may live, let him enjoy them all. But let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything to come is meaningless." (Ecc 11:7-8 NIV) Solomon speaks here of life. Those who are alive see the sun. He calls the reader to enjoy these days. He must also remember that as throughout the book days of darkness will come. These will include oppression, fleeting enjoyments, financial loss and death. The final days will be meaningless. As always he holds out hope though especially for the young.
"Be happy, young man, while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment." (Ecc 11:9 NIV) This does not refer to eschatological judgment. This is the old testament "under the sun." Solomon is saying Youthful exuberance and its in-the-moment passion which the author espouses will bring consequences since life is never lived perfectly.
"So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for youth and vigor are meaningless." (Ecc 11:10 NIV) The NET Bible translates anxiety here "Emotional stress." This fits very well. Solomon, as throughout the book, sees youthfulness as having strength and vigor but ultimately it is meaningless because does not provide the true answers to the deep questions of life.
"Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them"--" (Ecc 12:1 NIV) Solomon is urging those in their prime to acknowledge God's sovereignty over their life before hard times come all of the things that he has spoken about in the previous sections of the book: surprising and curious twists of fate, undeserving jobs events superior and authoritarian capriciousness. These bouts of reality bring a seasoning of our view of ourselves God and the world.
"before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain;" (Ecc 12:2 NIV) This is a somewhat enigmatic statement what does the light refer to and clouds usually dissipate after a rain. the structure of the verse belies a parallelism and thus may be there for structure more than for anything else. the light may simply refer to the day light than anything else and serve to form the parallelism. the clouds form a reverse to what we would think would be there after a rain which would be sunlight but for those "under the sun", the older mature grief and reality stricken life-educated people would acknowledge the clouds rather than the sunlight. (I'm sorry I had another four paragraphs that were deleted before they were saved. I simply don't have the strength at 12:30 AM to go back and rewrite them. This is all I can do. So until next week. Keep coming back it works if you work it and you are worth it.
In the last section Solomon encouraged us to embrace life for all it is worth in spite of the fact that we may not know everything. He urged us to seize the moment in our endeavors and pursue life with diligence and prudence.
"Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun. However many years a man may live, let him enjoy them all. But let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything to come is meaningless." (Ecc 11:7-8 NIV) Solomon speaks here of life. Those who are alive see the sun. He calls the reader to enjoy these days. He must also remember that as throughout the book days of darkness will come. These will include oppression, fleeting enjoyments, financial loss and death. The final days will be meaningless. As always he holds out hope though especially for the young.
"Be happy, young man, while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment." (Ecc 11:9 NIV) This does not refer to eschatological judgment. This is the old testament "under the sun." Solomon is saying Youthful exuberance and its in-the-moment passion which the author espouses will bring consequences since life is never lived perfectly.
"So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for youth and vigor are meaningless." (Ecc 11:10 NIV) The NET Bible translates anxiety here "Emotional stress." This fits very well. Solomon, as throughout the book, sees youthfulness as having strength and vigor but ultimately it is meaningless because does not provide the true answers to the deep questions of life.
"Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them"--" (Ecc 12:1 NIV) Solomon is urging those in their prime to acknowledge God's sovereignty over their life before hard times come all of the things that he has spoken about in the previous sections of the book: surprising and curious twists of fate, undeserving jobs events superior and authoritarian capriciousness. These bouts of reality bring a seasoning of our view of ourselves God and the world.
"before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain;" (Ecc 12:2 NIV) This is a somewhat enigmatic statement what does the light refer to and clouds usually dissipate after a rain. the structure of the verse belies a parallelism and thus may be there for structure more than for anything else. the light may simply refer to the day light than anything else and serve to form the parallelism. the clouds form a reverse to what we would think would be there after a rain which would be sunlight but for those "under the sun", the older mature grief and reality stricken life-educated people would acknowledge the clouds rather than the sunlight. (I'm sorry I had another four paragraphs that were deleted before they were saved. I simply don't have the strength at 12:30 AM to go back and rewrite them. This is all I can do. So until next week. Keep coming back it works if you work it and you are worth it.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
The Solomon Project-- Ecclesiastes 11:3-6
For the rationale of this blog please earlier blogs. This week we look at the acts of nature and how they correspond to human life.
"If clouds are full of water, they pour rain upon the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there will it lie." (Ecc 11:3 NIV) Two illustrations are given here. The first refers to certainty and the second to finality. the terms "north" and "south" are a merism referring to whatever direction the tree may fall. Clouds and rain storms can be clearly seen. The falling of a tree may not. Walking through the forest you will find a tree fallen. You may not have heard it (yes contrary to philosophical musings it will make a noise). It may have been standing the day before or the week before but "today" as you observe it, it has fallen without any warning.
"Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap." (Ecc 11:4 NIV) The agricultural metaphors here will not make much sense to those who have not worked in agriculture. Sowing seed by hand must be done on a calm day or the seed willl not fall evenly on the ground. Secondly wind portends bad weather many times. The problem is that if one waits for the perfect time nothing will ever get done. If you wait for a perfectly calm day you may miss the entire planting season. The same goes for the concept of reaping. This is the second of two merisms from nature. The first being the tree falling either to the north or to the south. Here the merism involves planting the beginning of the season and reaping the end of the season. It includes everything in between. The concept of clouds picks up the metaphor from the earlier verse (verse 3). Clouds bring rain and can ruin a harvest. Diligence calls for bringing in that harvest at just the right time and action before fall and winter rains hit. This calls for prudence dilligence and planning, all things that the author has been expounding by a variety of methods in this book.
"As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things." (Ecc 11:5 NIV) Without infinite knowledge one may think (believe?) that we are incapable of functioning. There are inscrutable things we still do not know. Solomon's point is that wisdom while limited is sufficient for sunctioning in life. Absolute knowledge is unattainable but not needed to function in life.
"Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well." (Ecc 11:6 NIV) Solomon returns to the agricultural metaphor in this verse. The winds are calm in the morning and are the perfect time for sowing seed. however it does not mean that one whould continue sowing all day long (as some think). The verse continues to talk about not allowing your hands to be idle in the evening. The metaphor applies to work morning and evening. The merism (both ends of the spectrum of an activity which include everything in between) applies to work throughout the day and into the evening. Bear in mind that if you did not sow you did not reap and if you did not reap you and any of your livestock may not eat. This was a life and death situation. Wisdom, not infinite knowledge, teaches us to act strategically in living life. Earlier Solomon urges us to do whatever is immediately at hand with complete focus and passion (9:10).
Thus through trading on the high seas and the lessons of nature and agriculture Solomon encourages us to take risks, give generously and act diligently and prudently in the affairs of life. Carpe Diem!!
What does this have to do with those of us who struggle with addiction and compulsivity? Many times an accompanying disorder is anxiety. We call it the "desease of needing to know" Infinite knowledge would be overwhelming. We must learn to work with the knowledge we have been given and make wise choices based upon those facts. We can succomb to the "paralysis of analysis." Those who struggle with addiction are especially afflicted with the need for predictability: Responses of those in our close relationships, at work, our friends. Solomon is saying that life in unpredictable. But God is the maker of all things. We tend to think of that in terms of concrete objects but it refers to time, space, thoughts and events not just the physical world. The AA Big Book talks about giving freely (p. 164). How well do you do at that? Many times addicts and compulsive people consume everything with the addiction. Giving to others of what we find in our twelve step programs or of our lives turns us from the addiction and to others. How do dilligence and prudence fit into your recovery plan? What have you done today to move yourself forward in recovery? What focused action was taken this day to say that you will be a better person tomorrow? Our time is up for this session. So until next week keep coming back it works if your work it and you're worth it.
"If clouds are full of water, they pour rain upon the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there will it lie." (Ecc 11:3 NIV) Two illustrations are given here. The first refers to certainty and the second to finality. the terms "north" and "south" are a merism referring to whatever direction the tree may fall. Clouds and rain storms can be clearly seen. The falling of a tree may not. Walking through the forest you will find a tree fallen. You may not have heard it (yes contrary to philosophical musings it will make a noise). It may have been standing the day before or the week before but "today" as you observe it, it has fallen without any warning.
"Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap." (Ecc 11:4 NIV) The agricultural metaphors here will not make much sense to those who have not worked in agriculture. Sowing seed by hand must be done on a calm day or the seed willl not fall evenly on the ground. Secondly wind portends bad weather many times. The problem is that if one waits for the perfect time nothing will ever get done. If you wait for a perfectly calm day you may miss the entire planting season. The same goes for the concept of reaping. This is the second of two merisms from nature. The first being the tree falling either to the north or to the south. Here the merism involves planting the beginning of the season and reaping the end of the season. It includes everything in between. The concept of clouds picks up the metaphor from the earlier verse (verse 3). Clouds bring rain and can ruin a harvest. Diligence calls for bringing in that harvest at just the right time and action before fall and winter rains hit. This calls for prudence dilligence and planning, all things that the author has been expounding by a variety of methods in this book.
"As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things." (Ecc 11:5 NIV) Without infinite knowledge one may think (believe?) that we are incapable of functioning. There are inscrutable things we still do not know. Solomon's point is that wisdom while limited is sufficient for sunctioning in life. Absolute knowledge is unattainable but not needed to function in life.
"Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well." (Ecc 11:6 NIV) Solomon returns to the agricultural metaphor in this verse. The winds are calm in the morning and are the perfect time for sowing seed. however it does not mean that one whould continue sowing all day long (as some think). The verse continues to talk about not allowing your hands to be idle in the evening. The metaphor applies to work morning and evening. The merism (both ends of the spectrum of an activity which include everything in between) applies to work throughout the day and into the evening. Bear in mind that if you did not sow you did not reap and if you did not reap you and any of your livestock may not eat. This was a life and death situation. Wisdom, not infinite knowledge, teaches us to act strategically in living life. Earlier Solomon urges us to do whatever is immediately at hand with complete focus and passion (9:10).
Thus through trading on the high seas and the lessons of nature and agriculture Solomon encourages us to take risks, give generously and act diligently and prudently in the affairs of life. Carpe Diem!!
What does this have to do with those of us who struggle with addiction and compulsivity? Many times an accompanying disorder is anxiety. We call it the "desease of needing to know" Infinite knowledge would be overwhelming. We must learn to work with the knowledge we have been given and make wise choices based upon those facts. We can succomb to the "paralysis of analysis." Those who struggle with addiction are especially afflicted with the need for predictability: Responses of those in our close relationships, at work, our friends. Solomon is saying that life in unpredictable. But God is the maker of all things. We tend to think of that in terms of concrete objects but it refers to time, space, thoughts and events not just the physical world. The AA Big Book talks about giving freely (p. 164). How well do you do at that? Many times addicts and compulsive people consume everything with the addiction. Giving to others of what we find in our twelve step programs or of our lives turns us from the addiction and to others. How do dilligence and prudence fit into your recovery plan? What have you done today to move yourself forward in recovery? What focused action was taken this day to say that you will be a better person tomorrow? Our time is up for this session. So until next week keep coming back it works if your work it and you're worth it.
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