my bedtime routine involves Bible devotion with the aid of Our Daily Bread, my mom’s gift to me last Christmas.  a couple of days ago, the assigned reading was from ecclesiastes 1 and 12.  it has been my practice to review the historical background of a Bible book especially if it is rarely opened.  (we seldom read our old testament minor prophets, for example.  don’t we scramble for the table of contents whenever the preacher asks us to transfer to, say, habakkuk or zephaniah?)  my Spirit-filled Life Bible is particularly helpful when it comes to providing exegetical information and commentary. 

although the certainty of ecclesiastes’ authorship is yet be achieved, one can associate it with solomon using its internal evidence.  one can also surmise that he wrote this at the end of his kingship, which sadly was ruined by having 700 wives and 300 concubines.  these ultraelectromagneticsuperextra-marital affairs led the wisest man who ever lived to commit idolatry and its most abominable practices such as offering children to deities.   old king of the world’s superpower then, solomon could be considered as having "been there, done that." 

and he thought he had every reason to be happy.  but chapter 1 proves him wrong.  in his own reflection, he confesses that all is vanity, that life is but a breath.  after many years of hibernating, solomon’s wisdom was bugging the man again.  the next chapters of ecclesiastes deal with his regrets and sentiments on the life that would  soon be over. 

but did he die utterly disappointed?  looks like he did not.  in chapter 12, a resolution appears.  after having "been there and done that," the author finally enjoins the reader to "fear the Lord and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all." 

here, solomon (or the author), like the prodigal son, was returning to the source of his life.  that short sentence became a resounding reminder to me that my life is but a breath and the only thing that will make it worthwhile is by living it in humble obedience to God’s purposes for me. 

2005 is over and a new year has begun.  My previous year was full of breakthroughs in terms of professional and academic growth and spiritual maturity.  but i know for a fact that one way or another i got myself into trouble by going back to the old life defined by behavior idolatrous and adulterous to the God i love.  and so for this year, i am challenging myself to seek God’s direction, to desire increased faith, and to follow His will.  i have one more year in singapore and i’d like every day to be sincerely meaningful.  because all other things are mere vanity.