The Plumbline

Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us. A wise person thinks a lot about death, while a fool thinks only about having a good time. (Ecclesiastes 7:3-4) A wise person thinks - those words popped out at me as I read through this passage today. A fool thinks, too. He may not think well, but he thinks! Focus does determine outcome in so many ways, does it not? We can ponder something so much, allowing it to consume our minds over and over again, until it actually forms the course that we take in life. If we ponder the better things, our course is more certain and brings meaning into our lives. If we ponder things unwise for us to pursue, our course may just be a little bumpier than we had hoped. Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us. Ponder that one for just a few moments today. Sorrow actually 'refines' something within us. Whenever I have encountered something that brought sorrow into my life, it did caus...

To be satisfied with a little, is the greatest wisdom; and he that increases his riches, increases his cares; but a contented mind is a hidden treasure, and trouble finds it not. (Akhenaton) I said to myself, “Come on, let’s try pleasure. Let’s look for the ‘good things’ in life.” Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors. But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere. (Ecclesiastes 2:1, 10-11) Solomon begins by giving us a litany of 'things' he had tried in order to find 'happiness' or 'meaning' in life. Wine, good times, massive treasures, huge homes, grand parkways, herds and flocks - nothing measured up. All was 'so meaningless' and did not fulfill his dreams or wishes. It was like chasing the wind. The greatest 'pleasure' in life is not found...