Monday Morning Hevel

This morning I stood by the Columbia River. I turned off my audio book and opened my eyes and ears. Light coming up behind Mount Hood in the distance, clouds blanketing the sky in the West. Periodically the whine of a boat motor carrying its passengers up river for some early morning fishing. Sights and sounds with clear meanings. Under all of the sights and sounds was another noise.Not a clear note, not a clear source, unless you count the entire shoreline as a single origin. The sound of water lapping against the rocks and reeds. Constant and unfailing in the midst of all the other sounds. The boat went by, and the soft murmur kept on.Yesterday I started preaching a series in the book of Ecclesiastes. We really keyed in on the word most translators render as "meaningless" or "vanity", Hevel. The better word might be "vapor" or "smoke". Not meaningless. Not vain. But also not controllable, not graspable, often beyond any level of comprehension.In the message, I sought to make the point that hevel can make this world confusing and the only response which brings peace is worship. A willing recognition of our lack of control and understanding combined with trust and praise for the one who has complete control and understanding.Hearing the sound of the water this morning I recognized something in the noise.Hevel.No clarity, no communication, no distinct source. Just a noise. A lot of hevel makes life hard. But there is a lot of it which makes life beautiful. I can not be sure how long I stood, ears open. Nothing to share of what I was thinking about, because I'm not sure I was. In that moment, I was simply present. My heart is fuller and my mind lighter for the moments spent by the water.I want to find more moments away from clarity. More time resting in the beautiful hevel of a river or the sound of leaves in trees. Intentional time to laugh with friends for no reason. Hevel can be hard. But my goodness, it sure can be pretty.