Article August 24, 1946 Issue

What Is My Real Purpose?

DOROTHY EILEEN HEYWOOD-DOVE

"In much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow." In these words the Preacher records in the book of Ecclesiastes (1:18) the utter disillusionment which had overtaken all his efforts to attain fruition and satisfaction. Unsparing were the steps planned to satisfy mind, body, estate; to delight the eye, to rejoice the ear, to increase wealth and promote pleasure. And yet the results of all these strivings proved vain, unsatisfying, even grievous.

Throughout the ensuing centuries the Preacher's wisdom has become proverbial; but have his findings been accepted? What is the significance of these poignant conclusions, the keynote of the failure of his search? With dramatic clarity the fourteenth verse of the first chapter of Ecclesiastes presents the reason for the failure which pervades the strenuous efforts made by men to seek and find satisfaction in temporal pleasures: "I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit." The Preacher's wilderness stands revealed. No spiritual desire had winged this search, which he characterized significantly as "under the sun." No unselfish motive for the betterment of the individual or the race had impelled the efforts of which he wrote, no exalted aim had illumined these strivings.

In what vivid contrast to the disillusionment of the Preacher are the words of the Master, Christ Jesus, who, ascending the mount of revelation, delivered a sermon which has lifted a standard of life for all men in all the succeeding centuries! As the book of Ecclesiastes brings clearly to view the poverty and barrenness of those aims and ambitions which owe their inception and deceptive attraction to the objects, moods,and vagaries of the so-called human mind, so. in sharp contrast to all these shallow objectives, comes the clarion call of the exalted Sermon on the Mount to seek first the realm of God, the dominion of Spirit. In this realm the desirable ceases to be materially objectified in things and in persons and becomes appreciable in spiritual ideas and identities. Consciousness is there recognized as spiritual and universal, having the divine Mind as source and origin. And man reflects and possesses this consciousness.While the writer of Ecclesiastes pursues his investigation into the causes of human failure, his wisdom leads him to an appreciation of the moral law, and he sums up his findings in the following words(12:13): "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God. and keep his commandments:for this is the whole duty of man." On page 340 of the Christian Science textbook. "Science and Health with Key to theScriptures," Mary Baker Eddy gives to humanity an interpretation of this verse which brings out its spiritual meaning: "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: love God and keep His commandments: for this is the whole of man in His image and likeness." And she adds significantly: "Divine Love is infinite. Therefore all that really exists is in and of God, and manifests His love."

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