Issue 862 – Train to Nowhere – September 24, 2022
This piece of long abandoned and neglected railroad track is at the end of a long trestle in Whatcom Falls Park in Bellingham, Washington. It ends twisted and deformed, hanging over a bit of a gorge.
Some sources identify this as the Milwaukee Road Wood Railroad Trestle. I discovered that this wooden bridge was built in 1916 by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St Paul and Pacific Railroad.
I don’t know what was hauled on the line. Was it used for logging? A common practice in the early 20th century was to move logs to the mill via railroad. Was it a general-purpose rail line? Whatever the original purpose, it now stands decaying in the middle of a forest with most of the tracks long destroyed.
Like many projects over the centuries, the railroad was built at a high cost and designed to last for an extended period. Like all such projects, it eventually became a footnote in history.
This year’s new and celebrated project is next year’s old news and, in a few decades at most, of no interest if it still exists. So it is with almost all the works of humanity.
King Solomon, the wisest and wealthiest man in history, came to understand this truth. He had everything and did everything, but found it did not fulfil. His little book, Ecclesiastes, details His understanding.
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. The sun rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises. The wind blows to the south and goes around to the north; around and around goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns. All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again. All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there a thing of which it is said, “See, this is new”? It has been already in the ages before us. There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after. Ecclesiastes 1:1-11
In some translations, “vanity” is rendered “meaningless.” I think that fits our current culture more appropriately.
As you read Ecclesiastes through (ideally in one sitting), you can get a sense that there might be no point or meaning to life. All of Solomon’s wealth, accomplishments and success are deemed vanity or meaningless. If they are meaningless to someone so famed and accomplished, how can our little works and efforts have any meaning?
Yet, by the end, King Solomon reveals an incredible timeless truth.
Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:9-14
Our duty, purpose, and reason for being are to love and serve God. The things done in keeping with His will are the only things that will survive. Anything else is meaningless.
In those moments when you are evaluating life, remember God and His purpose and seek His face.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).
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