That hindsight is 20/20 is an accurate assumption when realized to late.
Card in, pin dialed, acces granted, cash, always more cash, after all it sustained life. Cash is king and the old man seemed to make it a motto pasted to the pricy bumper. The old man's son was saddened at the thought of his fathers condition. So old, the breath of death about to breath its reality into his nostrils, did his father not get it. "Old man, your time is up, the time has come to move on, another season of life is through." When it was all said and done, what did the old man have? A fancy car, money, a caring son that perhaps wanted his money, and the warm welcome of an unknown reality six feet under ground.
To be born, what is received? Breath, light, warmth if lucky, and the promise of death. To be born is vanity.
To mature, what is received? Recognition, responsibility, restriction, failure, and the promise of death. To mature is vanity.
To increase in wealth, what is received? Stuff, broken friendships, increase of friendships, a miserable spouse, and the promise of death. To increase in wealth is vanity.
To grow old, what is received? Memories of the past life of failure, a reminder of the promise of death. To grow old is vanity.
All is vanity said the preacher and he said it right. But what is this end, this promise of death. When the promise is fulfilled, is that vanity? The one decided course in life that happens, we avoid. But, that all is hopeless is not the way to address our predicament. Death is conquered.
The apostles of Acts where exuberant and exceedingly joyful over the resurrection of Jesus because Jesus over came death. He has now given us a life to live with purpose, a life that is not promised an eternal unconsciousness It is a purpose devoid of vanity, where the useless existence of humanity has been replace with hope, hope in the resurrection.
