Category: Blogs

Striving till the End

Embarking on a monumental, life-changing journey involves a beginning—a moment where the decision is made to pursue something—and an end, whether it be any form of monetary or material gain, or simply death itself. Whatever the end may be, we are sure to find the beginnings difficult and tedious, and the task itself challenging throughout, but it doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

If one subscribes to the opinion that the pursuit of something great is impossible due to perceived shortcomings, then one might as well say that gravity is too strong to even arise from the bed. Absurd as it may seem, since we rise each morning to face the new day’s challenges and delights, we don’t lock ourselves in bed and refuse to move. Yet, when we wish to achieve something, we often forget the challenges and perseverance required.

I am reminded of the book of Ecclesiastes, where Solomon writes, “Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride.” So often, we take pride in our works and pursuits to the point of defeat when they go unrecognized, causing us to abandon them. I’m guilty of this on more than one occasion.

Solomon reminds us that pride and recognition are not the goals. Instead, there must be a fundamental driving force that spurs not only the initial pursuit but also the drive to see it through to fruition.

What a shame it is to pursue something solely for the sake of fame or popular acceptance, driven by the praises of others or material rewards alone. In the midst of cheers and celebration, we lose sight of the goal, and our pursuits end as dead as they were before they were conceived. What was it founded in?

It’s so disappointing nowadays to expect instant answers and immediate results, and to believe we can leave the striving to someone lesser deserved. How foolish that is. Patience and perseverance are where growth takes place, and they should be embraced along with the suffering and striving.

Let’s reframe our pursuits to fit godly goals and forget the deception of false praise and support from those who would leave you for dead had you chose a path not aligned to theirs.

Joy in Sorrow

Ecclesiastes 7:2 [ESV]

“It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting,
for this is the end of all mankind,
and the living will lay it to heart.”

Mourning reminds us of the transient nature of life. When we mourn, we realize that life is fleeting and elusive, and oh so delicate. Even enjoyable and memorable moments can be curiously elusive, yet mourning and grief can feel interminable. There’s a desire to go back in time, maybe change the circumstances, or to see that loved one just once more, yet these longings can be transformed from bitter sadness into joyous gratitude.

Consider what Solomon means when he writes, “It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting.” How can it be that happiness is found in sorrow and not in joy? What can be found in grief that we should count as joy? Perhaps our lack of wisdom lies in clinging to what we believe gives us joy rather than letting it go when the time comes, valuing the good times over the bad instead of welcoming both teachers into our lives. This involves an awareness of life’s fragility, taking a wider perspective on life and death, beginnings and endings, and how they relate beyond our initial perception of them. Accepting life for what it is and truly embracing the ebb and flow can bring us contentment and peace.

Alan Watts once said, “All clinging to life is an illusory hand grasping at smoke.” What could he have meant by this? Have you ever tried grasping a wisp of smoke? Now try it with only your imagination—impossible, right? Consider a photographer capturing a moment on film, then developing it and framing it. It could be a moment so precious and valued. However, the picture isn’t the moment, the memory isn’t the moment; the moment has passed. There is no way to hold onto it forever and stay in perpetual joy. And who would capture a mournful moment on film and seek to cherish it just as equally? It would seem necessary for a moment to be just that—momentary.

As we progress through life, we can learn to value both joy and sorrow the same, taking note of the lessons learned while experiencing them. Just as smoke slips through our fingers, so do the moments of life. Mourning helps us appreciate the impermanence of life and the importance of cherishing each moment. Warren W. Wiersbe writes in The Bible Exposition Commentary, “Laughter can be like medicine that heals the broken heart, but sorrow can be like nourishing food that strengthens the inner person.” So there really isn’t a requirement to take all sorrow for joy and vice versa, but to respect both and recognize their roles in shaping our journey. Embracing the full spectrum of our experiences allows us to grow and find deeper meaning in life.

At the end of Ecclesiastes 7:2, Solomon writes, “for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart.” He is calling for balance in seeing death and cherishing life. Psalm 90:12 reads: “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” There should be a healthy respect for death and an appreciation for life, especially a life well lived. We are not to dwell solely on death, but to recognize it as a necessary part of life.

Take sorrow and grief;
hold them close.
Shape them into joy for that moment brief;
make peace with yourself and set them free.
Tomorrow the sun will rise again,
last night, no more to be.

Clouds

As they drift along, when you see a cloud, you say “that’s a cloud,” because you know what a cloud looks like. Though it would take many shapes; a warm rain, harsh hail, frigid snow, electrified and deadly. But it is still a cloud. Will you then say that one cloud is less beautiful than any other? Or that it does not belong or is misshapen? We welcome the rain and fear the storms. But the cloud does not discriminate; it does what clouds do. And so consider a human, you see someone, and say “that is another person.” But you don’t know what storms they may bring, what warm rain or cool shade they may offer, or whether they’re here to harm or to help. They are who they are, and they do what they do. Now look beyond the flesh and vapor, to see deeper, to see what’s behind it all; a beauty, invisible and mysterious. Beyond the hate, beyond the fear.

There is a fear in the unknown, a terrible anxiety.

How is a person like a cloud, or a cloud like a planet, or a planet like a galaxy? These all painted on one canvas for all to see. But this canvas, that which holds it all together, is unseen.

Does it scare you?
Or do you take comfort in it?

The patterns, the shapes, reminders both subtle and bold. Take a moment and have a closer look.

Clouds passing, one-by-one.
It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?
Now don’t be afraid, just breathe deeply and remember to let go.

“Regard yourself as a cloud.” – Alan Watts