Chasing the Wind?

I felt a cool breeze blowing across my face this morning and I was reminded of encounters that I had a few years ago:

First, The man I greeted at the non profit early morning board meeting was a busy banker who was feeling overwhelmed with all that had to be done last week and still remained for today.  He was successful in the eyes of world, but struggled to find a sense of worth and significance in his own eyes.  After a few moments of sharing his heart and concernes with me, He stated, "Oh well, It's just another Monday and back to the old grind."

The book of Ecclesiastes, which many believe is an essay of the lectures of King Solomon to the court of pupils he taught in his latter days of reigning over Israel, speaks repetitively about the meaningless vanity of chasing after the dreams of the world.  The Scriptures read, "Meaningless!  Meaningless!  Utterly Meaningless!  and on numerous occasions the teacher/writer speaks of how seeking wisdom, pleasure, toil, advancement, wealth, power, etc., is "Chasing After the Wind."


Many people are struggling through life because they allow other people's priorities, even the worlds priorities to become their priorities.  Good Christian people like this man mentioned previously are often caught up in chasing the dreams that others have for them instead of receiving the vision that God has for them.  That is not to say that Christian people are not busy even as they seek to serve God and fulfill His mission.  However, whenever we are passionately serving the Lord and seeking to fulfill His mission, there is a motivational factor, a fuel and a significance in God's work that is second to none.  Simply put, the busyness of the mission does not overwhelm us when the peace of God is present.  Every person can find the peace of God in their lives if they allow the mission of Christ to be their vocation and their priority no matter where they may be.

Though we are focused on the mission of Christ, even in the church we can get caught up chasing the wind if we are not careful.  If our desire is for the priorities of God to be at the forefront and the mission of God to be fulfilled, then we will learn how to discern the difference between those things that need to be done and those things that do not.  We will know the difference between the wants and the needs of life.  This is an important lesson for us to learn for our faith, family and church.

Secondly, on one occassion as I watched my own children at play, I witnessed a little child who was running around the playground reaching into the sky as far as he could.  He looked to have something that he was holding in his hand.  When I had the chance, I asked him what he was doing.  He said, "I am catching the wind."  "Really?" I said, and then I followed up by asking, "Did you do it?"  He opened his bare hand and stated emphatically, "Yep, don't you see it!"  Then he was off and back to the chase.

What are the fruits of your life?  Do you have anything to show for your faith?  Are you experiencing the feelings of being overwhelmed because you are denying God's presence as you chase after all the world tells you that you must have and do?

 Are you chasing the wind?