Seeking the Elusive

I could live here. On the other hand, a certain teenager lay on the sand and moaned, "There's nothing to do." I glanced around. In our little beach cart alone, we had sand castle building tools, a skim board, two boogie boards for wave surfing, some beach games. This is not to mention the beach bicycles and the several miles of flat beach to ride on or the shady bike paths that criss-cross the entire island, or the kayak in the car. Then I looked at the wide open ocean, the tiny shells kicked up by the surf, the countless birds and sea life to gaze upon in wonder.

Wisely, I remained silent. Some things must be understood for oneself.

I had kayaked in the morning and a dolphin surfaced near me. I stopped paddling and sat bobbing in the water, watching him. I tried to take a photo, but once again, was unable to time his surfacing with my shutter clicking. He was magnificent, but elusive. As soon as I thought I could capture him on film, he would disappear. All my efforts were futile. In the end, I put down the camera and focused instead on just enjoying his presence, the brief moments when he broke out of the deep and the droplets of water sparkled on his sleek back in the sun.

Solomon, the richest and wisest man who ever lived, found that despite having sumptuous palaces, all the women and possessions he desired, and limitless wealth, he could not quite grasp the purpose of life.  He wrote the famous Bible verse: "vanity, vanity, all is vanity...striving after the wind." How could such a man, with all he possessed and understood, be so struck with the futility of life? What would make him lose all sense of joy and wonder?

In the end, Solomon recognized that the only thing that brings meaning to life is to love, honor, and serve God. To try to find happiness in any other endeavor would ultimately lead to futility and despair.

The dolphin surfaced a final time, arched his beautiful back, and slipped into the sea, waving his tail at me as he disappeared. I put away my camera and paddled back to the dock. Although I could not see him, what a thrill to know he was still there! Maybe tomorrow he would appear again!

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Ecclesiastes 2: 24-26

There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 12: 13-14
13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. wFear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.3 14 For xGod will bring every deed into judgment, with4 every secret thing, whether good or evil.