Pursuing French Breezes
Foolishly stilI, I am too inspired by me.
Do we ever doubt we are the best judge of our needs and desires?
This misplaced self-confidence is the fruit of pride, that permanently foolhardy trust in self which inspires me only toward me.
French short story writer Guy De Maupassant (1850-1893) told a clever, very short story of a self-inspired young woman - The Necklace. It was first published on 17 February 1884.
A beautiful young woman of modest circumstance (and very dissatisfied in her low station) would live above her birth. After some conniving she was invited to attend an important function with her husband. Her husband gave her all His savings to buy an elegant dress, yet still she was most unhappy. Believing she had no suitable adornment she approached a wealthy friend. From her friend's vast selection of jewels she choose the largest diamond necklace to borrow. Somehow this necklace became lost, and the young couple were covered in despair. After much distress the wife found a duplicate necklace in a far jewellers, though it was very expensive she bought it with borrowed money and 'returned' the necklace to her friend. She and her husband then labored for countless years to repay the loan. Not long after the loan had finally been satisfied she happened to meet her friend. On an impulse she explained to her friend the events of the function many years previously. The friend replied: 'But my dear, my necklace was but paste; it was worth just a few francs'.#
This is a parable about life, pride, sadness and the laboring for that which perishes. It is about the donation of our fleeting breaths to the worthless, the transitory.
Ecclesiastes describes such vanity as a chasing after the wind.
Yet there is still nothing new under the sun, for it is in varying degrees aren't we all employed by the worthless?
Is it not the fool who is constantly working for that which can't last?
We are each agents pursuing breezes or hoarding that which fades, rusts or is stolen.
Jesus advised mankind in the parable of The Rich Fool who too was employed by the worthless, indeed trusted his future to it:
all men will receive what they have stored up for themselves, either in richness towards self or towards God.
Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life,which the Son of Man will give you. For on Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval. (John 6:27)
Prosperity is gained by what you give away, not by what you put away.
Today's Soul Snippet:
"It is what you do when you have nothing to do that reveals what you are'. ~ anon.
Did you find this SoulSnack helpful? Would you like to subscribe or forward it to a friend?
ENJOY too A Parable of Judas and Reaching into Softness
#A SoulSupply paraphrase