This website is for Ecclesiastes and Wisdom Literature students to post their observations of Ecclesiastes and Wisdom Literature in the real world: quotations, allusions, analogies. Ecclesiastes 12:11 says "The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails" (NIV)
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Ecclesiastes in Life and Literature
This website is for Ecclesiastes students to post their observations of Ecclesiastes in the real world: quotations, allusions, analogies.
I found this poem entitled, "Giving Time to the Dirt in Rows," by Walt McDonald,to connect directly to Ecclessiastes 3:1. Walt McDonald explains in his poem that we should be grateful for each day and try to live it to the fullest, knowing that tomorrow is promised to no-one. In Walt McDonald's poem, he remisses on all the fun that he used to have with his three children while they were young. As Walt McDonald writes, he explains that these moments were most precious to him as he remembers and misses his children now they have grown up and moved away. An example of this was described in his poem as, "Down on both knees, I taught our babies tickle and horsey rides, caught all three kids with the same oiled catcher's mitt, then waved them away on planes." To my understanding, I feel that the verses which incorporate Walt McDonald's poem regarding his children childhood memories to be similar to those verses in Ecclesiastes 3:1,"There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven". I enjoyed reading this poem as I find that it perfectly reflects Ecclesiastes 3:1. I found this poem on the Website at http://www.aplacefor truth.org/woe.volume1htm
The Teacher, in Ecc. 3:1, states there is a time for everything. I think The Byrds captured the ephemerality of life and what we do as we attempt to order the disorderly lives we have. Their song, "Turn, Turn, Turn" was #1 on the Billboard charts back in the 1960s in the midst of the Vietnam War and growing distrust in the policy decisions of the US government (I guess not much has changed - nothing new under the sun perhaps?). Take a listen and I think you can appreciate the timelessness of the song and its wisdom (borrowed of course from the wisest of the Hebrew sages).
Pete Seeger, the author of the song, put to lyric the lack of direction held by many younger Americans of that era. As I listened to the song, I was reminded by the irony the song represents: its very structured and meant to order some very disorganized thoughts and feelings. It reminded me that even in the midst of our confusion, God provides an orderly way to deal with us. What a great God we have that can take our "wisdom" and unfold to us His "purpose" for those of us who dwell under heaven!
I found this poem entitled, "Giving Time to the Dirt in Rows," by Walt McDonald,to connect directly to Ecclessiastes 3:1. Walt McDonald explains in his poem that we should be grateful for each day and try to live it to the fullest, knowing that tomorrow is promised to no-one. In Walt McDonald's poem, he remisses on all the fun that he used to have with his three children while they were young. As Walt McDonald writes, he explains that these moments were most precious to him as he remembers and misses his children now they have grown up and moved away. An example of this was described in his poem as, "Down on both knees, I taught our babies tickle and horsey rides, caught all three kids with the same oiled catcher's mitt, then waved them away on planes." To my understanding, I feel that the verses which incorporate Walt McDonald's poem regarding his children childhood memories to be similar to those verses in Ecclesiastes 3:1,"There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven". I enjoyed reading this poem as I find that it perfectly reflects Ecclesiastes 3:1. I found this poem on the Website at http://www.aplacefor truth.org/woe.volume1htm
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ReplyDeleteThe Teacher, in Ecc. 3:1, states there is a time for everything. I think The Byrds captured the ephemerality of life and what we do as we attempt to order the disorderly lives we have. Their song, "Turn, Turn, Turn" was #1 on the Billboard charts back in the 1960s in the midst of the Vietnam War and growing distrust in the policy decisions of the US government (I guess not much has changed - nothing new under the sun perhaps?). Take a listen and I think you can appreciate the timelessness of the song and its wisdom (borrowed of course from the wisest of the Hebrew sages).
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHvf20Y6eoM&feature=related
Pete Seeger, the author of the song, put to lyric the lack of direction held by many younger Americans of that era. As I listened to the song, I was reminded by the irony the song represents: its very structured and meant to order some very disorganized thoughts and feelings. It reminded me that even in the midst of our confusion, God provides an orderly way to deal with us. What a great God we have that can take our "wisdom" and unfold to us His "purpose" for those of us who dwell under heaven!