I WAS my work.

The Vanity of Self-Indulgence

I retired early from work. Everyone who knew me was astonished. I WAS my work.

What happened is after 10 years as Bureau Chief, when a new contract came due, I just assumed I would sign it. For once, I had the presence of mind to pray before making a big life decision.

I was so shocked when the answer to my prayer was "it's time to stop."

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The Vanity of Self-Indulgence

Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

The Vanity of Living Wisely

So I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly. For what can the man do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done. Then I saw that there is more gain in wisdom than in folly, as there is more gain in light than in darkness. The wise person has his eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I perceived that the same event happens to all of them. Then I said in my heart, “What happens to the fool will happen to me also. Why then have I been so very wise?” And I said in my heart that this also is vanity. Ecclesiastes 2:11-15 ESV

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So I went from being a news executive with some power and influence, to being just a regular person who found joy in many regular things including studying the Holy Bible and trying to be a better wife.

When I read King Solomon, “The Preacher” writing Ecclesiastes, I have no choice but to agree, it is all vanity. The only thing that satisfies the soul is striving for a closer relationship to God.