“Vanities of Vanities, says Qohoeleth, variety of vanities! All things are vanities.

This is from the Old Testament Book of Ecclesiastes, written some 2,300 years ago.

“Qoheleth” is not one person, but a number of people over a long period of times. It means something like, “The Preacher.”

In English, the word “vanity” can mean proud or arrogant, but in this case it means “in vain”, or “useless.” The author is saying “useless, useless, all things are useless.” Everything is the same, over and over. You’re born, you live, and you die.

It sounds like a modern agnostic lament. In fact, it is not a hopeful book. The word “god” (with a small g) appears exactly 40 times- a number that means a full amount of time. But the personal name of God (with a capital G) does not appear at all.

You may be familiar with the song by the Byrd’s, “Turn, turn, turn.”- “To everything there is a season.” Those are the lyrics from this book.

Some people think this book should not be in the Bible because it is so negative. But that would be to deny the reality that this is exactly the way people think at times. Unless they’re delusional, people have moments of doubt whether it isn’t just a waste of time.

It is of some consolation to know that this is not unique. As I mentioned, this book has been part of scripture for over 2,300 years.

The first step toward finding purpose is to realize it’s what being human is all about. It is a search in honesty, not delusion.

Philosophers and theologians deal with question of life by being honest. Otherwise, they risk being overwhelmed by despair.

Then, as a surprise, in a moment of prayer or a meeting of minds, an insight, a special person cannot break through the barriers of pretending that so often happen. The false pursuit of meaningless ego-centered activities that indeed overwhelm.

There is no answer in the Book of Ecclesiastes not in the Book of Job nor even in the Book of Proverbs- all Scripture meant to teach how to live with proper manners and good behavior- but not live in faith.

72 books of the Bible, 27 in the New Testament (or 26 since I for one find the Book of Revelation not much better than science fiction) are proclamations of Faith that God is intimately part of life.

Today is Rosh Hashanah- the Jewish feast of the New Year. It is the day God opens the Book of Life to determine who will live and who will die over the next year. The next 10 days are the time of atonement- to make up for all the wrong choices of the past year and to change God’s mind if we have done things we should not have done. It is, if one can say so, the Jewish equivalent of confession. Starting out a new year by making amends, opens our hearts to the presence of God. There is nothing like the prospect of dying that gets one’s attention. This is the season of the end of hopelessness and the beginning of openness to others. Forgetting one’s inner selfishness and reaching out to others as fellow pilgrims, with God leading us. Otherwise, all we have is a bland unhappy future.

Truth must be part of faith, or else it is just pretending.

Happy New Year.

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