Hevel

I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom concerning all that has been done under heaven. It is a grievous task which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with. I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and striving after wind. 
– Ecclesiastes 1:13-14

We all know what it feels like to step outside on a bitterly cold day, and we know what it looks like to see our breath as the warm, moist air leaves our lungs and enters the cold surrounding environment. Consider how long that breath remains visible in front of you. A minute? Thirty seconds? Hardly. In fact (and without empirical measurement), I seriously doubt it remains visible as much as a second. It is there, and it is gone, quick as that. Now picture an attempt to capture your exhaled breath. I don’t mean breathing into a bag, but rather reaching out with your hand and trying to apprehend that breath before it disappears into the air. Hopefully this gives you an image of a futile attempt.

The wisdom writer, having explored in his mind the full extent of humanity’s pursuit of meaning, concludes that such striving is as futile as grasping our breath. English translations of the Bible often use the word “vanity” or “meaningless” to convey the idea of the original writing. Eugene Peterson actually comes quite close in his paraphrase by saying (Ecclesiastes 1:2), “it’s all smoke!” The word used by the wisdom writer is the Hebrew word Hevel, meaning “vapor,” “breath,” or “mist.” It can also convey the idea of emptiness or meaninglessness, pertaining to something that is insignificant, holding no value. The word shows up elsewhere in the Old Testament, at times in reference to false gods and idols (Jeremiah 8:19; 2 Kings 17:15), or to speak of the transient nature of this life (Psalm 144:4). Can you picture your breath on a cold day? Can you picture trying to grasp that breath before it disappears? If so, you have a picture of what the writer is telling us about our supposed sources of meaning in life.

Through the course of human history, how many times has someone said, “If only I had (fill in the blank here), I would truly be happy”? How many times has the person obtained that thing, only to find that they were still not satisfied? I estimate the answer on both counts to be astronomical. You and I are part of a race of beings who see ourselves somewhere along the slope of the mountain of meaning, looking upward while being convinced that if we can just reach the summit we will find absolute fulfillment in life. The wisdom writer stands at the top, calling down with his somber announcement, “Don’t bother climbing any further. You will not find here what you are seeking. Up here it is nothing but smoke.”

What is our next step? To come down from the wrong mountain and figure out which is the right one. And this we will do. Soon.

See you along the Winding Path.