Images by Alyssa Marie Francis
Just as you do not know how the life breath enters the human frame in the mother’s womb,
So you do not know the work of God, who is working in everything.
Ecclesiastes 11:5
My mom always says, “The Lord works in mysterious ways.” This statement would usually be made after I had come to her with one of those moments where I exhibited pure foolishness, or when He just threw a complete curveball in my life.
Now that I’m older, I’d like to think I’m wiser hopefully... but I am also able to more fully understand the limitations of my humanness. No matter how much I think I know neither myself nor any other can assess with 100% accuracy the heart of another. This knowledge challenges me to be open to mercy in times when I would have been very opposed to it.
“God is working in everything.” Ecclesiastes 11:5
Rejoice, O youth, while you are young,and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth.
Follow the ways of your heart,the vision of your eyes;Yet understand regarding all this that God will bring you to judgment. Ecclesiastes 11:9
In tune with verse five, this verse reminds me not to critique those who choose a different life path. The Church has very clear positions on hot topics —abortion, same sex marriage, and contraception being only a few.
The fact of the matter is that many people will choose to lead these alternative lifestyles fully confident that they are called, sometimes even by God. Instead of harshly judging or arguing with family, friends, and coworkers, let God do the judging.
Reflect: In what situation(s) do you need to be reminded of your humanness and show mercy to others?
Act: Take the first step to healing a broken relationship.
A Conclusion to the Book of Ecclesiastes
Verses one through seven can be summoned up as,
“Remember the Lord before nothing else matters.”
As frightening as it can be to realize (for the first or one hundredth time) that literally the only thing going to Heaven is our soul, we can also find great comfort in knowing that when our time approaches, our affairs will already be in order if we are baptized in Christ.
Being a daughter of Christ also enables us to fully enjoy each bit of life, even if our dog or favorite purse won’t quite make it to Heaven with us.
The last word, when all is heard: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this concerns all humankind. Ecclesiastes 12:13
It all comes down to that, ladies...
The fear of the Lord — our key to meaning in this short chapter called the book of life.
