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Part Three: Everything is Meaningless


This is a four-part series that has been inspired by my Bible read through (reading the bible from beginning to end). 

 As I read the book of Ecclesiastes, I was reminded of the book review I did earlier on Dealing with Disappointment. They both ask the big question: “Is life just one big disappointment?”

Even if you are not a believer, I think this discussion will be equally thought-provoking and hold deep resonance with most, if not everyone.
The whole notion of this life quite literally reinforces the sentiments of everything we do is meaningless. This could be especially obvious in the workplace, quite often we carry out tasks that just seem like a pointless exercise, bearing little or no impact to the overall outcomes of the organisation.



This reminded me what a police officer said in a documentary: ‘we could spend hours and hours gathering evidence and all for the courts to give them a small fine, maybe some community service and then to do the same next week.’ 



Whilst he didn’t utter the word ‘meaningless,’ his tone and demeanor suggest otherwise. I think a majority of the public would agree that this is indeed meaningless, ironically in what should be a meaningful job.

On the other end of the scale, we can find meaning in a difficult situation with the intention of leaving the world in a better place than how we found it. A great example is that I watched a programed about children facing homelessness. 

It was truly inspiring how this young kid still musters up the motivation to think outside of her situation. By participating in campaigns to raise awareness about this growing issue, hopefully, the generation coming behind her won’t have to experience what she had to.

This reminded me of what a friend once said, ‘perhaps the meaning of life is to find the meaning,’ as this child did - finding meaning in a meaningless and dire situation. This book of Ecclesiastes discusses other themes that include the futility of work and leaving the fruits of our labour to the next generations may be in vain. 

My mentor once said to me that work is often overrated, perhaps used in a way to validate ourselves to some degree. The future is already determined but unknown so dreaming of a different life or wishing life was different is also meaningless when it has already been decided.

Thinking on eternity can help us all to remain meaningful in a meaningless life. For example, challenging our thought patterns in the hand that we have been dealt with. Being brought up in a broken home doesn’t always mean a broken life but it quite often does. 

 Statistics and science tells us that we are more likely to suffer from reduced life chances because of our genetics or environmental factors that set the blueprint of how we see the world. 

Eternity helped me to find peace in the midst of life in a difficult world. By knowing Him, it has given me the strength and courage to never give up or in. I try to live each day as deeply and fully as I can, in spite of my scars - yesterday’s scars are today’s strength. 

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