This too is meaningless

Scripture: I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:11-13)

If there is one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that getting through this life with a low stress level is 90% attitude. The problem is: changing one’s attitude is far easier said than done. I don’t know how I turned from a morose, depressed, waif of a teenager into a positive thinking adult – all I can figure is, “It must have been a God-thing”, because I was at death’s door when I was 14. Nothing in life at all was worth living for.

Today, however, I often see the “silver lining” in life’s circumstances, especially when things don’t seem to be turning out quite right. I see it in other’s lives, too. But I don’t ever share my (positive) thoughts carelessly, or without being empathetic towards the current circumstance. So far, I have rarely turned people off by my attitude, but I can’t help but share my perspective on things.

When my eyes developed cataracts, I instantly thought, “Well! At least it’s “just” cataracts and not some debilitating eye disease with no cure!” When my pick-up truck was stolen several years ago, after the shock and disappointment, my next thought went to, “Praise God for Mom’s inheritance money. I can buy a new one.”

When any of my friends come up to me to complain that they were planning a trip to Disneyland, but there’s rain in the forecast, I’m quick to point out that that is the best time to go!! Less people, shorter lines, nearly all the lines are under cover, so you are rarely ever standing in the rain. And unless you really, really hate to get wet, that can really be one of the BEST times to go there!!

I can’t help it. The “silver lining thinking” is in my blood. And more often than not, I believe it actually helps my friends cope with what is in front of them. Sometimes we could all use a different perspective on things.

This isn’t to say that I’m neurotically “happy” and “up” at all times under all circumstances. Oh no, certainly, I have my own demons in my closet that I have to fight; old tapes from my past that get me down, things I am pessimistic about ever achieving. But by and large, I truly am content in whatever circumstance I'm in.

I believe part of my shift in attitude came from that dark place in my past. I’ve been in that black hole of depression. I’ve been in that place where life was too painful to continue on, but by the grace of God, He is the one who helped me put one foot in front of the other, rather than cut life short. I’ve visited the dark side. Now I see and live in the light.

As Christians, we are all moving towards one goal: To be with Christ for eternity once this life is over. With that in mind, I sometimes have to look around me and shake my head at all the present “stresses” in life. The truth is: everything here is temporary; and in the long run, who’s going to care in a week, a year, a decade about certain things?

When I have a clear mind and walking close to God, and someone in traffic cuts me off, or tailgates me, sometimes I just look up and think, “And in the grand scheme of things – what does it matter?” I pull over, let them by. I back off and I don’t tailgate myself. In the grand scheme of things, one day I want to be with Christ. So what does it matter that rude people are tailgating, that the clerk you asked where the widgets are sighed and acted as if you were an idiot, that you lost $20 that fell out of your pocket. It’s all just stuff in this world; we are all reaching for a much higher goal! What matters is how you’re living. Are you a Sunday morning, warm the bench kind of Christian who leaves church but still lives a worldly life? Or are you doing things to make a difference in His Kingdom?

Brothers and sisters, there are far more things important in life than to allow other people to “ruin your day” with their rude behavior, or stressing over minor arguments with friends or family, or holding grudges against others.

Ecclesiastes is probably one of the most morose books in the bible. Many times the phrase, “This too is meaningless. A chasing after the wind” appears. It’s not something to read when you are feeling down. But it’s an interesting book, read with the right attitude.

I see it as .. nothing matters in this world REALLY, because in the end, we’ll be in heaven with God. You can’t take your wealth, your prestige, car, house, best friend, pet fish, bubble gum .. nothing with you. Once you die, you are stripped of everything; and it’s all between you and God. Take a moment to think about that.

“Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.” (Ecclesiastes 5:10)

Much of Ecclesiastes is written in a very Eeyore – of Winnie the Pooh fame – attitude. Most of us can relate to poor Eeyore at one time or another. He’s a slow talking donkey who seems pessimistic about everything, but has a large capacity of compassion for his friends.

“I denied myself nothing my eyes desired, I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind, nothing was gained under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 2:10-11

Although a majority of Ecclesiastes seems very depressing “All is meaningless .." there are also morsels of hope and strength, as such I found in chapter 5: “Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him - for this is his lot. Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept this lot and be happy in his work - this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.”
(Ecclesiastes 5:18-20)

It’s all about attitude, the way you look at things. Sometimes the glass is half full, sometimes half empty, sometimes you just have to be glad there is a glass at all, cuz some people don’t even have THAT. Other times what is more important is what is IN the glass to begin with. There’s all kinds of perspectives, but by and large, if you look for the bad in all things, you will find it. If you look for that silver lining, more often than not – you find it, and sometimes that silver reflects and blesses other people around you.

Prayer request: For those who would like to change their attitude towards life, that the Lord would begin to mold and shape them; help them to see a fresh, new, different perspective on life.

Prayer: Father, we ask You humbly to change out hearts towards You. You did not create us to look at all things in the world with a cynical eye, expecting the worst. No, You created each soul on this earth to worship You in all circumstances because of who You are. God Almighty, Savior, Creator, Father, Teacher. Help us to look towards You and not our circumstances, and help us to put all things in proper perspective. ~Amen~