“All rivers go to the sea, yet never does the sea become full. To the place where they go, the rivers keep on going. All speech is labored; there is nothing one can say. The eye is not satisfied with seeing nor is the ear satisfied with hearing.” Ecclesiastes 1:7-8
When will we feel we have said everything we need to say? Do we ever reach a point where there is no more to say and we can remain silent for the rest of our lives? When will our eyes decide they have seen enough and remain shut? Or our ears have heard enough and so we plug them up, not interested to hear another sound?
Never. You would never choose to not speak, hear, or see permanently. Why? Because we are people created to long for more. We are designed to desire and experience the infinite: God. To that end if we speak, hear and see with no intention behind it, what are those senses worth? What are their purpose?
Even for me, who can disconnect my cochlear implants and immediately be immersed into silence (an option I occasionally appreciate), I long to hear more. I suppose my longing is amplified in a way, a longing to hear music the way I used to, a longing to be able to hear in noisy situations. It’s only as of recent, in dealing with an increasing eye impediment, that I realize God might be placing that physical longing in me for a reason.
Why do I not hear clearly or do not see clearly? What is in my heart that can bring more clarity than eyes or ears?
This scripture from Ecclesiastes made me realize I limit myself based on my limitations, but God is always inviting us beyond our human limits. This made me think of Peter on the boat when he says to Jesus, if it’s you, tell me to come to you. And so Jesus calls him, and Peter is walking on water toward Jesus. Until he focuses once again on his physical limitations, he’s like why am I walking on water, I can’t walk on water, and then he sinks.
I do this still with my hearing, I focus on what I can’t hear, rather than what I can.
Lord, if it’s you and what you want me to hear, tell me to hear it and I will.
Lord, if it’s you and you want me to move this thing you’ve called me to forward in this crazy time of my life, tell me to do it and I will get it done even though I feel short on time.
Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you, and I will.
We are so hard to satisfy. We ask for things and then we loathe too many things. We take on a path and then grow weary. We surrender and then we doubt. What will it take to believe the Lord has power over all things and we just need to believe and walk towards Him? All we are called to do is walk towards Him. He takes care of these rest.
“To the place where the rivers go, they keep going.” Ecclesiastes 1:7 He never tires of receiving us, all of us, the worries, the weaknesses, the strengths, the truths, the lies. The moving parts around us are not for us to control. Our control is in the one step we take towards Him as slowly or as quickly as we choose.
He takes care of making an impossible weight easy to carry. He bends time and shapes paths we never thought we would find. He heals relationships and He provides a way forward. We must only be walking towards Him, eyes on Him, and we can trust if we allow our minds to become distracted and begin to sink, He will pull us up.
Lord, give me ears satisfied only with hearing you and where you are calling me. Give me eyes satisfied only with seeing you and who I need to serve. Give me words satisfied only to share you with others. Amen.
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