Hevel, Hevel, all is Hevel
… remember that seemingly cynical wise-man, King Solomon? The one who said that “everything under the sun” is simply “vanity”? If you don’t know his story, just remember this: he was credited in Hebrew scriptures as the most wise king of all-time, leading Israel through their highest of high’s.
As impressive of a figure as he was, I think we can agree this is not the best quote if you want to be the most well-liked person in the room, is it?
No, instead, people tend to be captivated by the Tony-Robbins, Elon-Musk types who dazzle us with their immense riches, ripped muscles, popularity, power, status, and/or superior intellect. We are enchanted by their “new” ideas and perspectives on human progress, flourishing, or possibility. We can’t help but attend their next conference or obsessively stalk their Twitter’s.
Consider this phenomenon: Taylor Swift recently took the stage at NYU’s graduation where she delivered the class of ’22’s commencement speech.
We love Taylor, obviously, but seriously… does anyone else find that decision a bit disconcerting?
What about the under-dog success story, an international student or someone who grew up in a shoddy neighborhood or underfunded school system who rose to prestige and opportunity by unprecedented odds. Or what about the person dedicating their life to some remarkable philanthropic aim?
I digress…
It seems like those with the most “marketable” things to say these days are the ones who hold the most influence. This is problematic because these trendy ideas or words may not actually be crafted to help us but rather, to help them.
Perhaps I am becoming a cynic, but I’m starting to find more and more peace hidden in that unpopular proverb:
“Hevel, hevel, all is hevel”.
Wait, “hevel”? What is that? Is that the root word for “vanity”? Or “meaningless”?
Actually — in Hebrew, the word hevel means “a smoke” or “a vapor”.
The book of Ecclesiates is part of the “wisdom literature” of the Bible. The defining arc of the wisdom offered to us in this book is that much, if not all of life, is but a “vapor”, a “chasing after the wind”.
Another way to translate vapor in this context is, a “paradox”.
The author goes on to weigh the things in life humans seek for meaning or happiness, things such as career, status, pleasure, and prosperity… like a vapor, the author finds that though these shiny objects look as though we can seize them with our hands and attain the happiness we are seeking, once we’re close enough to reach out and grab whatever that thing is, it seems to be cut adrift despite our most valiant attempts to control, leaving us with despair or an insatiable desire for more. Paradoxical indeed.
“Hevel, hevel, all is hevel…”
At a glance, the authors musings seem to be purely pessimistic. However, there is one nugget of marketable self-help advice buried within the criticism that often goes overlooked. Here it is:
“There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.” Ecclesiastes 2v24
Maybe the legend Tony Robbins is piggy-backing off this ancient wisdom when he says things like:
“where attention goes, energy flows”.
Though not packaged in a tan, muscular, hyper-masculine package & sold for a pretty-penny, perhaps the book of Ecclesiastes, written sometime mid-10th century b.c, had some valuable perspective to offer on where we mortals place our focus.
At this point you might be wondering, what is your point?
Well — my point is to simply challenge my own perspective and also that of whomever took the time to read this on what will truly be worthy of your focus and attention in this life.
Is it hustling 60–80 hours per week, “grinding” for status through career or pleasure through prosperity? At the end of your days, will all that time and energy and stress be worth a couple great vacations or living in luxury?
Let me add one more assertion the author of Ecclesiastes makes: foolish or wise, rich or poor, male or female, social media influencer or ordinary dude working from home to earn a living for his family… we all cross the same finish line, don’t we?
Or, as the stoics would phrase-it, “Momentum Mori” or, “remember that you die”.
I realize that you can still take this motto and maybe couple it with the old-addage: “YOLO” (thanks Drizzy) and live your life in constant grind-mode and striving.
But again, my point here:
With death being the great equalizer, I find that I agree with the author in that we ought to focus our attention each day on finding satisfaction in the simple pleasures of all that we may do.
If you find yourself sweeping floors today, I dare you to find satisfaction in it. Whatever is for lunch lunch today, I dare you to find satisfaction in it. However much that paycheck ends up being, I dare you to find satisfaction in it. Whichever car you drive, I dare you to find satisfaction in it. If it rains or if it’s sunny and 85 today, I dare you to find satisfaction in it.
Wherever life may take you, I dare you, along with the author of Ecclesiastes…
To find satisfaction in it.
There will be nothing better for you in life but to do just that. Find satisfaction. & don’t expect it to find you.
