6. Ecclesiastes 2
11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
From the 1828 Webster’s:
Vanity
2. Fruitless desire or endeavor.
3. Trifling labor that produces no good.
4. Emptiness; untruth
Reading that verse this week, I’ve been thinking, “I know what you mean, Preacher.” Sometimes I wonder how much of my previous existence was “Fruitless desire or endeavor.” After many years of laboring without God in my life, I was left very empty and vexed, and with little to no profit – of any kind – to show for it.
11. 264
When we learn the way in Christian Science and recognize man’s spiritual being, we shall behold and understand God’s creation, — all the glories of earth and heaven and man.
This statement has been proven more and more true to me these past few years. But even in the first few weeks of God bringing me here, there was enough of a change that the work I was given to do didn’t feel fruitless or empty. I have a great fondness for thinking back on that time, because of how quickly I seemed to be brought from the verge of oblivion to the beginning of a great and wonderful journey – “from darkness to light” as said in that last Fruitage in our textbook.
I am so grateful for Christian Science, and for this church: I love to be a part of this mission as it reaches others. I know there are people out there right now feeling as bleak as I once did, and I am so thankful to God that He has given the world this Science, and this church. When their own empty works bring them low enough, they will call to God as I did and He will answer! Thank you!