Thursday, September 23, 2010

Ecclesiastes 7

A couple of verses in Ecclesiastes seem to go against "common sense". I was struck by the beginning of verse 8:

Better is the end of a thing than its beginning,

I think it's common in our culture to think of the "honeymoon" phase of something. At the beginning of something, we're always so excited and doing it seems really great. First days at school, in love, or even a first day at work can seem so amazing. And then... things seem to go downhill as we realize things are not going to be as easy or exciting as we hoped they would be.

Why, then does Solomon--the wisest man who ever lived-- go against common experience and say that the end is better? I wonder if it doesn't have something in common with Paul's remarks writing to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:6-8:

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.


The story of Paul has what many of us would consider an awesome beginning and a not so great end. Paul's story starts with a blinding light and a miraculous conversion. It ends with him imprisoned and finally executed. And yet, he is able to look back and say "I did this right, I gave it my all". And I think that is what makes the end better than the beginning.

I hope I never get tired of running the race because it's not as exciting as it was in the beginning. Because the end is even better.

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