Giving it All

Enjoy life while you are living.

Go, eat your bread with enjoyment, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has long ago approved what you do. Let your garments always be white; do not let oil be lacking on your head.  Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that are given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do, do with your might; for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going. - Ecclesiastes 9:7-10

I wonder sometimes if the promise of life after death is in some ways self-defeating for humankind.

In today's reading, the author argues that this is all you have, make the most of it.

There is something to be said for that perspective.  If we all do our best and our most in this life, we will make a real impact.  We will strive for success, take risks, achieve greatness, make peace.

It is easy to look at the actions of others and be critical.  What a fool, we say.  How can that possibly work?

But sometimes, doing the crazy thing has real impact, produces real results.

If we set out to be complacent, we will live and die without making a mark.  But if we give it our all, even if we fail, what we accomplish will be so much greater than having done nothing.

So, go.  Give it you best and amaze yourself today.

Why not?