Several years ago I was appointed to serve on a public board. I was honored because the purpose of the board was, I told myself, important to me, and with a red face I now admit, also because it made me feel important. I understood that I was being asked to serve because I had supported the winning candidate for Governor of that State, and because he/she was a family friend of many years.
Though I had no money to help with the campaign, I did work hard, and made sure the candidate, and handlers, saw my face at every opportunity. I now think all concerned felt they just “had to do something” with me, and the something was this “important” position. The “Official” letter came appointing me to the board, which I released to the local newspaper myself, and soon thereafter a certificate suitable for framing. I just knew I was on the road to a glorious political future … Months passed, and I didn’t hear of any meetings, nor was I notified of anything further to do with this board. Still, I bragged and talked about how much influence I had with all the “right” people. I kept telling myself that I didn’t hear from anyone because things were getting set up.
Nearly two years later I finally got the nerve up to call the office of an important state official to ask about this board — the point of the board would have been directly responsible to that person’s duties. Their office had never heard of such a board — at least not by that name. I called the Governor’s office to be told the same thing. It finally sunk in, I had allowed myself to become self-important, and to feed my ego, on something that didn’t exist. A position created, without meaning, for my vanity. Our word “vanity” is from the Hebrew word “hebel,” which describes vanity as a vapor or as smoke, a breath — Something that cannot be grasped, nor is it lasting, but it fades away and vanishes. My vanity was in something human, in a position that really meant nothing, was not lasting, and other than the paper it was written on had no meaning or substance.
I had trusted in the power of a person(s), which is not where my trust, my faith, nor my ambition should have been focused. That is the problem with things of the world; positions, power, material wealth, physical strength, health, whatever, they are transitory. Like a vapor they disappear, and are not lasting. We read in Ecclesiastes 1:2 (KJV): “Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.” How true these words ring. When we trust in the strength of humankind, or in worldly things, we become as our vanity — a vapor, or breath, something transitory. We allow ourselves to be drawn away from the things of God which are true, lasting, and bring substance into our lives.
We chase after those things the world trusts to have meaning, only to find they are as nothing, and those things we have pursued, then, have the power over us and define us. We become as they are, as a vapor that disappears. 2 Kings 17:15 reads, “And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them. (KJV)”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
God calls us into relationship with Him, and offers us a life that is everlasting, a life that has substance and meaning. God calls us to join our destiny to Him, that we might be defined in terms of His glory, in ways that have meaning and eternal purpose. “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 1 John 2:17, KJV”
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The Rev. Walter Van Zandt Windsor is rector at Trinity Episcopal Church.
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Editor’s note: Pastors or associate pastors interested in writing for this section may submit articles to pbcnews@pbcommercial.com. Please include your phone number and the name and location of your church or ministry.