Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth,
vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!
What profit has man from all the labor
which he toils at under the sun?
One generation passes and another comes,
but the world forever stays.
The sun rises and the sun goes down;
then it presses on to the place where it rises.
Blowing now toward the south, then toward the north,
the wind turns again and again, resuming its rounds.
All rivers go to the sea,
yet never does the sea become full.
To the place where they go,
the rivers keep on going.
All speech is labored;
there is nothing one can say.
The eye is not satisfied with seeing
nor is the ear satisfied with hearing.

What has been, that will be;
what has been done, that will be done.
Nothing is new under the sun.
Even the thing of which we say, “See, this is new!”
has already existed in the ages that preceded us.
There is no remembrance of the men of old;
nor of those to come will there be any remembrance
among those who come after them.

Ecclesiastes 1

For myself, some of the most profound words of Scripture, penetrating while subduing. Father Roger has returned from Tanzania. His voice soothed pleasantly and soulfully today during Mass at St Paul Shrine. I had to pursue him after Mass, shaking hands, exchanging minimal words, while letting him know I missed him without directly expressing the fact. In his homily, he touched upon the words of Ecclesiastes by expressing the fact that accepting the fact there is nothing new under the sun can lead one to despondency, if one is not centered upon Christ. The New Testament fulfills the Old, truly bringing something new to the world. As sinners boredom is a factor in life, time alone, time in solitude, can be strenuous. Our imperfect natures are driven toward delusion and excitement, the pursuit of things we perceive as new. If we are not obsessed with the idea of discovering things appearing new and enlightening, boredom can slothfully overtake our troublesome natures. If we are not centered upon self-advancement, the elevating of the worldly man, where are we to go? Father Roger spoke of the matter with the idea of becoming tired. He made a statement that impressed. “We must not become tired (overwhelmed by life), yet we must become tired for Christ”. The idea synchronized with the message of recovery that we cannot overcome addictions and imperfections without surrendering. It is the first step. The Old Testament reading, per the course, allowed words from the Tao Te Ching, an essential book from my early wandering, to arise relevant.

Give up learning, and put an end to your troubles.

Is there a difference between yes and no?
Is there a difference between good and evil?
Must I fear what others fear? What nonsence!
Other people are contented, enjoying the sacrificial feast of the ox.
In spring some go to the park, and climb the terrace,
But I alone am drifting not knowing where I am.
Like a new-born babe before it learns to smile,
I am alone, without a place to go.

Others have more than they need, but I alone have nothing.
I am a fool. Oh, yes! I am confused.
Other men are clear and bright,
But I alone am dim and weak.
Other men are sharp and clever,
But I alone am dull and stupid.
Oh, I drift like the waves of the sea.
Without direction, like the restless wind.

Everyone else is busy,
But I alone am aimless and depressed.
I am different.
I am nourished by the great mother.

Simple words from myself, seeming relevant during Adoration

The tolling of the bell,
Tintinnabulum being rung,
Timekeeper dispensing, humbly,
The Cathedral bell swinging,
Amidst a tower, set apart,
Pointing heavenward, a lofty abode,
Angelus noon, intoning,
Tocsin yet hopeful,
Reverberating, an echo returning,
Advancing while diminishing,
Vibrating, wave after wave,
The sound going forth, repeating,
All are welcome, a sacrifice waning,
Dissipating, settling still,
Quiet now, bronze becalmed,
Pacified, silently waiting…