Christmas and Ecclesiastes
In this Christmas season, most of us gravitate toward happy stories, happy movies, and things that bring us Christmas cheer. I’m currently doing a study through the Old Testament, and for the last couple of days I’ve been reading through the book of Ecclesiastes.
Now, if you’ve read Ecclesiastes, you know it’s not exactly the kind of book you’d choose if you’re looking for something to cheer you up. In fact, it can seem kind of sad and depressing. However, there are some real pearls of wisdom if you take the time to read and contemplate what the author is saying.
In a short video produced by The Bible Project, I learned about a word in Ecclesiastes that was a game changer for me. The word is Hevel. It’s a Hebrew word. The word most English Bible translators use for this is meaningless. For instance, Ecclesiastes 1:14 says, “I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless—like chasing after the wind” (NLT).
The meaning of Hevel is vapor or smoke—something temporary, paradoxical, and unpredictable. That sounds like an accurate description of life to me. It’s not that life is meaningless, but if you try to build a life on work, pleasure, or great achievements, it’s like trying to wrap your arms around vapor. You reach for it, and it dissipates.
The writer wants us to understand that life is, for the most part, out of our control. Things happen that we never saw coming—some good and some bad. The longer we live, the more we come to terms with this reality. The point is that we need to learn to embrace the unpredictability of life and accept it not as we think it ought to be, but as it actually is.
I was reminded of this yesterday as I spent the day golfing with my two sons. So much of my life has been about planning, scheduling, calendaring, studying, setting goals, and—to some degree—trying to control the circumstances of my life. The problem with all of that is that sometimes I miss out on the simple pleasures of life: family, friendships, good meals, or sunny days playing golf with my sons.
Christmas can be joyful or miserable depending on how we approach it. Up until about age 25, I looked forward to Christmas. However, some family dynamics changed around that time in my life, and I found myself enduring—but not enjoying—the Christmas season. It reminded me of getting strep throat when I was a kid. My mother would say, “Stevie, we’re going to the doctor to get you a shot.” I hated shots then, and I still do. I would brace myself for the penicillin shot and feel greatly relieved when it was over. What a terrible attitude to have toward Christmas.
The good news is that the Holy Spirit began speaking to me about my bad attitude, and in my early 30s I learned to once again enjoy the Christmas season. I realized Christmas was not about me and my enjoyment factor. Once I put the focus on others, everything changed for the good.
The real Christmas story is full of twists and turns, but Jesus and His parents learned to roll with it. After all, did they really have a choice? And after all, do we really have a choice? Life is unpredictable and short, so why not enjoy it while we can?
As you go about the next few days, take time to enjoy each moment as it comes to you. Don’t try to control it—accept it, maybe laugh about it, and enjoy what God has put before you. Life is not meaningless; it is Hevel.
Merry Christmas,
Steve