Ecclesiastes

The three books of wisdom. Proverbs. Ecclesiastes. Job. Interesting that they are where they are as collections, maybe even parables. More than one scholar as hypothesized that Job was a story and not a real person. Considering the book begins with a wager between God and Satan, there might just be some truth to that; it’s not like they likely have a big audience of those.

Been feeling a little bit more tugging lately. Which means it’s probably been going on for a while and you’re finally starting to notice.

You do enjoy the book of Proverbs. Relatively easy to grasp, most of the with a direct point. Live your life this way and you will be better off. Make good decisions. Work hard. And things will generally work out.

Heard recently that the three books of wisdom could be thought of as three friends at a metaphorical bar.

The third book, Job, needs no introduction. An old, grizzled man who’s seen it all and gone through it all. Highs to the lows. And in his age and experiences come a measured understanding.

Proverbs is an idealistic, wise, young woman. Brilliant and grounded. Seeing order in the universe that must yield from a Design. The thought was so close. Almost like a machine. Like these are the basic processes of existence, all operating according to established principles that just makes sense to us – and even when they are complex, we can follow them by reducing them to basic concepts that we can understand.

Proverbs as machinery. Oh, that’s a rabbit hole you’re going to have to go into later. Just seems like fun.

Almost like the motherboard Dream from a few years back.

And that leaves Ecclesiastes. A middle-aged curmudgeon of a man who just seems to get lots of pleasure by contrasting himself with Lady Proverbs. Voicing the chaos to her order.

“Oh, work hard and everything’s just gonna happen for you?” he says, with a smile as he shows you a picture that will crush that thought like a plastic cup.

Life isn’t fair. What does it matter when death is right around the metaphorical corner for all of us? How is it right when someone saves up for years for something and then lose it all to mere chance.

What does idealistic Proverbs have to say about that? When all those orderly principles you were taught to believe it get stood on their head and you wonder if God isn’t just a kid looking at you like an ant as He holds a magnifying glass.

A book about popping balloons. Teaching a lot of wisdom on the other side that you don’t usually mess with being an optimist…

Yeah, maybe that one would be a good one to be up next. A a lot of things in life seem to be nudging you that direction. Like maybe you need another perspective. There’s a lot to like in Proverbs, but it is not meant to be read alone.🤔

A lot of the time, the good comes with the bad. Well, almost all the time, because tradeoffs are how the universe works.

Your body is getting stronger, that first week of Texas was rough, but not nearly as grueling as Pennsylvania. Things are going great, and they already need you back for two more weeks starting Monday.

The store is off and on, but a lot more on lately, so money’s gonna be great this month. Tomorrow is the folks’ 49th wedding anniversary. Lot of hits. A few misses. Massive problems sleeping lately. Like more so than usual.

Once amazing 20/13 vision is now blurry up close. Your vision is now a dismal 20/20. Doc suggested you become the proud new owner of magnification one reading glasses since the damaged right tear duct seem to magnify the problem… no pun intended. Got some to filter out some blue light. Absolutely hating how useful they seem to be.😒

You had barely unpacked; turns out that’s a good thing. You also almost died. Nearly choked on a morsel of food, and when you live alone, that’s a recipe for death right there.

So… let’s get it started. Would prefer to hear about all the raining on all the parades before you do kick the bucket. Your optimism is commendable, but it’s gonna get week if it isn’t challenged.

It’ll be fine. Take the time to get to know this curmudgeon killer of buzzes. It’ll be good.

Now try to get some sleep. Mask just hasn’t cooperated lately. One thing at a time though.

So long as you were within these walls, you have only one true function in life…. feeding Ted.😂