Just Sitting

Ecclesiastes 1:9-11:
That which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.  Is there anything of which it may be said,  “See, this is new”? It has already been in ancient times before us. There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come by those who will come after.
 
I was coming home from work in the pitch black. There are three stop lights on the way home.  I was sitting at the third one when I saw a truck already sitting at the light waiting for it to turn.  I didn’t even have to stop because he had already waited for me.  Even though he didn’t know me and wasn’t (I am sure) trying to make my life easier, he did.
We owe a lot to those who came before us.  We don’t truly know or understand how much easier (or harder) they have made our lives.  We cannot know their lives well enough to lightly criticize their decisions.
We come behind so we have the advantage of seeing where their decisions led them astray.  And we have the opportunity of learning from their mistakes.  It is missing the point, not to mention blatantly, inexcusably arrogant, to simply condemn them.  Then, figuratively, knock the dirt off our hands and say, “What next?” instead of examining own decisions in light of their failures and realizing: We are the same.  And we too will fail, if we do not consider today’s choices in light future and ultimately, eternity.
We are free to choose a different path than they did but too often we repeat their missteps and we will likewise suffer the consequences.
To reject the lesson of history is to choose the way of the fool.  Approach from the seat of the self-important and gain nothing: you already know everything.  But approach from the position of the fool and gain wisdom.
Have a blessed New Year!

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