Patti Burris

Ecclesiastes 2:17-23

¹⁷ So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. ¹⁸ I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. ¹⁹ And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will have control over all the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless. ²⁰ So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. ²¹ For a person may labor with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then they must leave all they own to another who has not toiled for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune. ²² What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun? ²³ All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest.This too is meaningless.

The last few months I have watched with growing concern as a nurse in my workplace worked herself to exhaustion. She would work over any time she was asked, even though it was visibly taking a toll on her. I voiced my concern to her on more than one occasion, telling her to just tell them, “NO”. She would sigh and say, “I know, I know”. Finally she confessed to me that she was afraid that if she said “no” she would lose her job. Over the last 3 months or so, she had been dealing with an illness that caused her obvious pain and suffering. This wonderful woman passed away early this afternoon.

She worked herself to the point of not having the time or energy to really enjoy life. Why do we work? Most of us simply work to pay the bills, to survive. We are born, we work, we die. Is this really what life is all about? It makes no sense to me. I know that there has to be more. This can’t be all that God has planned for us. We go through the motions of life like robots because we are to tired to enjoy being alive on this earth. What are we working for? None of it will matter when we get old. We have to sell it all anyway when we are placed in a nursing home and all of our hard earned possessions will be gone.

Inside I am screaming, “What is the meaning of all of this?” “What is the purpose of life, if we have to work to live until we are to old to even care anymore?” None of it makes sense. I feel like the author of this passage in Ecclesiastes; like everything is meaningless.

There has to be more to life than this. I don’t know the answer and I know that God owes me no explanation on why He does what He does. I do know, that the next few weeks will find me prioritizing my life and I will be reflecting on what brings true meaning to my life. What changes do I need to make to realize those burning desires of my heart before its to late?

I have felt utter shock and disbelief at the loss of this beautiful lady. I have also cried tears of heartache and sorrow. I will find the meaning to all of this insanity. I will…

Peace be with you, my friend, Denita Morris.