Dear God,
It’s all vanity, isn’t it?
Solomon was a wise man. He had it all. Wisdom infused with knowledge.
I have always wondered what a man with that much Wisdom and knowledge was doing with that many women.
The Wisdom came from the women, right?
You see, Solomon’s riches weren’t just measured in gold coins or jewels.
No, his wealth was on a whole other level. His palace was so grand that it had its zip code.
His throne was made of solid gold with diamond-encrusted armrests (talk about bling bling!).
But Solomon’s wealth didn’t stop there.
He had so much gold that he used it as paperweights for his scrolls, and his silverware was made of pure silver (who needs stainless steel anyway?).
And then he said, It’s all vanity, isn’t it?
Let’s talk about his wardrobe.
He didn’t just have a closet full of clothes; he had a walk-in closet the size of a football field!
His robes were made of the finest silk from exotic lands.
And his crowns were studded with so many precious gems that they could light up the night sky.
But perhaps the most hilarious part of Solomon’s wealth was his collection of chariots.
He didn’t have just one or two; he had chariots for every occasion!
There were gold-plated chariots for formal events, diamond-studded chariots for casual outings, and even a tricked-out chariot with a built-in jacuzzi (because why not?).
Hmmm.
They said that the race is not to the swift…but we run anyway…
The battle is not to the strong….yet we keep fighting…
Nor wisdom to men of understanding….take Solomon for example…
But time and chance happen to them all… who controls that?
So I sat there fiddling with my handkerchief.
I was not troubled. I was not sad, nor angry or anything.
But I had this feeling of nothingness. Where nothing makes sense.
It’s all vanity, isn’t it?
I once knew a very funny lady who told me that her best friend was ‘the earth’.
Yes, Lord, the earth – ground – Land.
She doesn’t wear stilettos for fear of hurting the earth.
She does not drop specks of dirt on the ground.
And she has the loveliest gardens I have seen so far.
She is so wealthy, yet she lives so simply…
I found it so weird and I wanted to understand…
The lady chuckled softly and replied,
“Ah, my dear, wealth is but an illusion, and possessions are fleeting.
“Think about it for a moment, this is where your body will rest eventually, why not be nice to it?”
It’s all vanity, isn’t it?
“Child, Let me tell you a tale to illustrate this truth.”
With a twinkle in her eye, the lady began this story:
“Once, there was a pompous peacock who strutted proudly through the forest.
It boasted of his vibrant feathers and regal bearing.
It believed itself to be the most magnificent creature in all the land.
Admired by all who beheld him.
One day, while the peacock was preening before all the animals, displaying its magnificent feathers.
A whirlwind hit the forest with much fury, causing his feathers to ruffle and scatter in all directions.
“Help! My feathers!” cried the peacock, flapping his wings frantically as he chased after them.
The other animals watched in amusement as it darted around, trying to collect his wayward feathers.
“Looks like someone’s vanity got the best of them!” chuckled the other animals
With a mischievous grin, the monkey picked a feather from the ground and held it up to the light. ‘Look!’ exclaimed the monkey. ‘This feather is nothing but dust and air!’
Eventually, it belongs to the earth, just as it is scattered on it already.
And if you are lucky, your beautiful body will make a good stew for a man’s dinner.
So why are you so proud?
Shocked and humbled, the peacock realized the folly of his pride.
“Beauty is merely a facade and true worth lay not in external adornments, but in the depth of one’s character.”
“In the grand theatre of life, where riches and glories may come and go.
“It is the laughter of the heart and the kindness of the soul that truly endure,” the lady finished smiling at me.
Hmmm, It’s all vanity, isn’t it?
So here I am Lord, humbled in the face of my assumptions.
In my quiet moments, I bow my head, to You who knows my heart.
Even though I falter and stray from your truth, like I know I would
Please let your mercy find me.
I am so sure I will walk into the noise, the wants and the ostentatious needs.
You can bet that I will crave the gold and diamonds and mansions and mixes
Please let your light draw me out and draw me home if I insist.
For I would rather be with you than be lost in the loudness of life.
And it’s all vanity, isn’t it?
This is your daughter, humble and wise and checking in.