God's gift to man
"I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful, and to do good as long as they live, also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil, this is God's gift to man.
-Ecclesiastes 3:12
Trying to make up my mind as to what I will be focusing on this coming year.
Looking back at the events of this past year, trying to make sense of all the ups and downs & seeking the lessons behind them.
Analyzing the moments I really felt poorly where things went wrong, or I wasn't very pleased with how I acted or handled a given situation, to understand my responsibility in them and how I can learn from any given mistake to improve for future instances.
But also remembering the moments where I felt content with the outcome of a given situation, where I look back at what happened, and the memories make me feel proud of how I acted, aligned with the archetype of man I idealize & aspire to be, and fulfilled by how things unfolded, to also seek out the lessons behind them. In this case, to assimilate the correct approaches, according to my values, I've had towards life, to hold on to those behaviors to ideally repeat my well-doings in the future.
As I read Ecclesiastes, I come across this passage in Chapter 3, verse 12, where the writer exhorts us to be joyful regardless of things going "good or bad" and regardless of whether we were "right or wrong" according to our understanding. There is nothing better for us than to be Joyful through it all, the good & bad, the ups & downs.
And as per our role or responsibility in any given scenario, to pursue what's good, not letting any external factor, like people's perception, hinder us from choosing Joy and doing good whenever our heart is in the right place.
And I say this because I have been the one hindered from acting upon what I believe to be joy & good many times because of people's perception, not having my priorities straight.
How the world operates, what people do, and their perception are not my responsibility.
Choosing Joy & doing good are.
This is something I have to remind myself constantly.
When I recall the moments where I chose Joy and the moments I did good to others, I can't think of a moment where I didn't get the "Ah, this is it" feeling.
The passage ends up saying that "God's gift to man" is "to take pleasure in his toil," so let's hold on to God's gift & truth, striving not for money, possessions, pride or recognition, but for that which we've been called to.
And whenever you feel like asking, "But how am I supposed to know what have I been called to do?"
Well, the answer lies in whatever you take pleasure in toiling for.
And I don't mean a self-indulging pleasure, but that which brings fulfillment, joy & contentment, doing while others are benefited from you doing it.
0 comments