My Monday morning alarm starts beeping at 5:30, and just like that… the start of a new work week is here. I get ready to step into the hamster wheel of my week, thinking about my never-ending “to do” lists, and wonder if I’m just chasing the wind.
The book of Ecclesiastes is such a beautiful book to me. It’s like the author is speaking directly to my heart, even with words written lifetimes ago. How do ancient words still ring true today in a high-pace, technology driven society?
What do people get for all their hard work under the sun? Generations come and generations go, but the earth never changes. The sun rises and the sun sets, then hurries around to rise again. The wind blows south, and then turns north. Around and around it goes, blowing in circles. Rivers run into the sea, but the sea is never full. Then the water returns again to the rivers and flows out again to the sea. Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content.
…I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless—like chasing the wind.
~ Ecclesiastes 1:3-8,14
I work all day… but for what reason? Whether my work is in the office, at home, cleaning up after my children, caring for them when they are sick, I need to ask myself why am I working?
…am I just chasing the wind?
Are my eyes set only on today? I pray that God would give me the wisdom to view everything I do through the lens of what matters eternally.
The average age of a U.S. woman is 80.2. I know this because I looked it up to see if it is time yet for my mid-life crisis (I’ve got a few years to go if you’re wondering, and if you have suggestions for then, I’d love to hear them…). At the end of my life, whatever length it may be, what will have really mattered? A paycheck? My status? The size of my home? The number of social clubs I belong to? My blog traffic statistics?
It may be God’s desire that I do exactly the same thing I’m doing now. It may also be God’s desire that I completely give up everything I have now and do something totally different. That is honestly okay with me.
How do we avoid chasing the wind?
Perspective.
If we keep God’s eternal lens as the perspective we use on all of our life’s work — whether it’s creating software or cleaning toilets — we know that whatever we do matters…. because it’s for Him.
Do you stay at home with your children? Serve them for Him.
Do you blog? Write only for Him.
Do you work in an office? Shine His light and love to those around you.
Are you discouraged? Look for encouragement and truth from Him, and then share it with others!
Whatever we do, we must do it all for Him. God will take our lives’ work as an offering and bless it in ways that we may never know.
Just as Martin Luther King, Jr. never saw his dream completely become a reality…. but the seeds he planted in his life work of loving others beyond skin colors? Completely phenomenal.
At the end of my 80.2 years of life (hopefully), all that will matter is that I did what God has asked me to do, and that I did it to the best of my ability for Him.
“If it falls your lot to be a street sweeper, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures, sweep streets like Beethoven composed music, sweep streets like Leontyne Price sings before the Metropolitan Opera. Sweep streets like Shakespeare wrote poetry. Sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will have to pause and say: Here lived a great street sweeper who swept his job well.” ~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might…” ~ Ecclesiastes 9:10
I see only the temporary, but God sees the eternal. I trust Him with my little piece of the big picture.
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Thanks so much for sharing this encouragement today. Totally feeling inspired to keep a fresh perspective and do all my work for Him!
P.S. I love your story about your son’s response on MLK Day. So good!
Hi Melanie, I too am blessed and inspired by your post. Have you ever read “The Invisible Woman: When Only God Sees” by Nicole Johnson? There’s a story in the book about an artist painting or sculpting something high up in a midieval cathedral. Someone asked him why he was putting so much effort into something that no one would ever see? The artist’s reply was, “God will.”
Needed to read this today Melanie! Thank you.
Inspiring and motivational. I think it’s important to know what our purpose in life is really all about. Great post, Melanie!
I loved this post. Just as I, too, love Salomon’s words in Ecclesiastes. Really needed to hear this – a couple of days late, but, God knew today was the day.
Blessings~Debra
I needed this, and the timing couldn’t have been better. This has been rolling through my head for several days – why am I doing the same thing over and over. I write a blog, and I always feel that it’s inadequate because I don’t have any “how-to’s”, “mommy ideas”, “crafting genius”, etc. It’s just a little blog that is more like a diary and I write what God has placed on my heart. Good reminder to just keep doing it for Him, and not to “feel adequate”.
Melanie,
I have struggled with this one my entire life. Always, I felt there was something “wrong” with me and I felt very “alone.” As they say, “Too soon old, too late smart.” I am just beginning to feel freedom in being my unique self. I am learning about the Highly Sensitive Personality and how to use my strengths as an introvert. I am beginning to allow myself to live my life and interface with people in a way that works for me. I still struggle with social situations, groups, even in my church. But at least now I can remind myself that it is OK to be me, even if others may not understand. I’m so glad I found your site. And thank you so much for the “One Word” button. I love how it looks on my blog.
Blessings,
Fay