What is Good for the Heart
Psalm 56, 57 [58] • Psalm 64, 65
Eccles. 7:1-14 • Gal. 4:12-20 • Matt. 15:21-28
Today’s reading from Ecclesiastes is pretty straight-forward, however extremely important and relevant to today’s current events. It reminds me of the Beatitudes (from the book of Matthew), in that it poses comparisons between the rich and poor, the happy and sad, etc. It begins with “A good name is better than fine perfume,” and goes on to list other things that make one wise, such as frustration, mourning, and patience. It labels excessive pleasure, foolish laughter, and feasting as “meaningless.”
One line I found particularly intriguing was, “Do not say, ‘Why were the old days better than these?’ For it is not wise to ask such questions.” As a 22-year old, I hear many people older than me lamenting about how much better things used to be in this world, and it oftentimes leaves me confused and slightly disheartened. Part of me thinks this line from the reading is trying to tell people to be appreciative of the present and reminds me of the common phrase “hindsight is 20/20.” However, reading it in the context of the sentences before it, it sounds as though the author is trying to communicate that when we suffer, we should sit in that suffering and learn from it, rather than constantly wishing things were better off. I don’t think it’s even necessary for me to explain the relation this would have to COVID or even the protests in Minneapolis and other parts of the country.
Lastly, I wanted to mention the very last part of this reading, verses 13 and 14. I really enjoy the lines, “When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.” I encourage everyone to not only consider the times that are good for you personally, but to constantly be asking yourselves whether times are good for everyone around you. I don’t mean on an individual level per se, but is everyone awarded the same basic privileges and rights that you are? If the answer is no, maybe it’s time for you to sit in suffering and mourning with those who are not given your privilege, and to be an advocate. For, according to Ecclesiastes, the bad and good are as well as each other in God’s eyes.
Written by Tel Johnson
Tel is a recent graduate of Hendrix College. She grew up at St. Paul’s, and currently lives in Little Rock and works at Arkansas Children’s Hospital.