Nostalgia

Our church is doing a sermon series on the book of Ecclesiastes.  The only passage I ever really knew and loved from Ecclesiastes is chapter 3........A Time For Everything chapter.  You know how I fell in love with it?  Watching Footloose.  :)  But, I have to say that the last few weeks my eyes have been open to so much more in the book of Ecclesiastes.  I now know that when the author uses the word meaningless, it actually translates to "vapor" or "mist".

Today we dove into the middle of chapter 5.  The sermon was titled "Nostalgic No More."  The passage first talks about the danger of wanting more.  When we have wealth, we are always wanting more.  We have a desire to fill up with "stuff".  If you asked my kids if we are wealthy, they would probably tell you no.  They judge by American standards.  But, I know better than that.  We are wealthy......we have clean water, we eat 3 meals a day, we have heat. clothing, a roof over our head.  We are indeed wealthy.  These gifts come from God.  He has given us much.  But, we are not satisfied.  We keep chasing after the wind.  Jeremy and I try to do without a lot of extras, but this week I had a few moments where I was feeling like I wasn't giving our kids "enough".  I know that my sound crazy, but I think about not being able to put Hope in gymnastics, or piano lessons.  Taylor would like to go on a trip next year for school and I don't know how that will happen.  The list could go on.  But, hearing this passage and reading some things throughout the week I was reminded that our kids don't need "stuff".  It may be hard to tell them no, but it's not the end of the world.  There are so many people in the world that have so much less.  It's hard not to compare sometimes.  I'm human.  I have faults.  It is definitely something I struggle with more than I care to admit.

Then the passage switches gears and talks about the dangers of looking to the past.  Our pastor talked about  how remembering the past isn't a bad thing.  It's how we remember the past that is important.  We need to remember well.  Sort through our memories.  Find a place to cherish them.  But, make sure they are accurate memories.  Remember the tears, the strained tones; don't sanctify our memories, just let them be.

Sometimes the older we get the more we idolize "the good old days".  Those days weren't always good.  There are always issues and problems.  We need to remember that this world is not our home.  We are not there yet.  And, we weren't there 20 years ago.

Another point our pastor made was that our youth need to know that the highlight of their life is not going to be the age of 16.  Sometimes we need to stop emphasizing to them that this is the time of their life.  That even a great win in a game is not going to compare for what is to come.  I can easily get caught up in those moments.

I hope Taylor sees that we've tried to be as honest with her as possible when talking about certain situations.  Jeremy and I have lived through some pretty tough things.  We're stronger because of them.  But, if I were being completely honest, I'm sure my memories of certain situations have been altered to only think of the good.  If you ask me about me getting pregnant at the age of 18, the first thing I would tell you is that it was a blessing.  That would be true.  What would be an accurate memory is me feeling scared, alone, and unsure of what to do.

It's good to reminisce.  But, we have to be careful to not live in the past.  I needed to hear that.

This series on Ecclesiastes has just made me realize how much I have left to learn from God and His word.  He is continually working on me and the more I'm open to it, the more I learn.  It also helps to have great teachers. :)