Wind: Who Can Catch It?

As I watch the trees bend and sway to the will of the wind, I am reminded of King Solomon's rant on vanity and all things useless, found in the Book of Ecclesiastes.  The phrase that jumps out as I witness nature being nature is, "a chasing after the wind."  I often think of these words when I look at things that I have wasted life on.  Much of what the world tells us is valuable is actually worthless to our souls, and true lives.  For example, there are those who have sacrificed and neglected their families, their children, their marriages in pursuit of particular positions in places of business;  places of business from which they will one day retire, only to be lonely old folks, because they've destroyed the relationships in their lives that mattered the most.  All for the purpose of selfish and prideful gain, many relationships die.  "VANITY!!  A CHASING AFTER THE WIND!!"


Now, let's look at the wind.  Can you see it?  Not really.  We only see the effect it has on what it touches.  Try chasing it.  Where does it end?  Where does it begin?  Take time to figure this out, and I guarantee your attention will be so drawn away that you will neglect something or someone in your life.  When I think of the "arctic blasts" that we hear about on weather reports during the colder months of the year, where does it start?  Is there a wind factory at the north pole that disperses this cold air that blows in?  Or is it a huge abdominal snow man who comes out of his cave every now and then and blows really hard??  Yes, I meant to say "abdominal."  It's just funny to me.  Foolishness, right??  Foolish is exactly what it is to chase the wind.  There are much better things to do with life, than waste it in pursuit of that which you CAN actually live without.


I look back over my life, at the things I could have gone without, and I clearly see that I might have avoided MOST of my failings and mistakes.  In my own mind, I simply turned wants into needs which led to jacking up my priorities, neglecting those who needed me the most, and losing myself to ungodly deeds and ways of life.  Chasing after the wind can only lead to loss; loss of life, loss of time, loss of loved ones, and sometimes, loss of sanity.

Look over your lives and determine what is TRULY worth it.  All else should be put in their proper places.  Jesus follows Solomon up with this simple saying, "What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?" (Matthew 16:26)  Money, Fortune, and Fame are not at all vital to your soul the way your family, children, spouse, and good friends are.

So, let the wind be, and simply accept the fact that we will never be able to catch it, stop it, or identify its starting point.  Then, life will be so much easier to accept and live.

This is simply one man's thought...........