THE DANGER OF CYNICISM

 

Friday, December 29, 2023

 

THE DANGER OF CYNICISM

 

Eccl 1:1-4

1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?

4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

 

          As we approach a fresh calendar upon which we will scribe both good things and bad, it is important to remind ourselves that we are people of faith and hope. While our eyes may not be encrusted with stardust and our mouths besmeared with powdered sugar, we press on.

 

          We wait expectantly while various news outlets prepare what is commonly called “the year in review.” If you are observant, you will notice that each one has a particular point of view. One may list those who have died in the past year. Another may list the political circumstances and yet another may list the financial prospects for the coming year. Not many will sing “happy days are here again.”

 

          William Shakespear offers a soliloquy by Macbeth that captures the essence of cynicism. Too many disappointments had caused him to lose hope.

 

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,

Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,

To the last syllable of recorded time;

And all our yesterdays have lighted fools

The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!

Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,

That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,

And then is heard no more. It is a tale

Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,

Signifying nothing.

 

          The Bible is, perhaps, our last refuge of hopefulness. It presents both the miseries of Job and the providence of Ruth and Esther. It believes in the One who has kept promises.

 

Hab 3:17-18

17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:

18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

 

Jer 29:11

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

 

Thank you, Lord, for your wonderful thoughts toward me. AMEN