“Then I thought about all that I had done and how hard I had worked doing it, and I realized that it didn't mean a thing. It was like chasing the wind—of no use at all.” (Ecclesiastes 2:11, GNB)
Life can be a puzzling chase. Many run after it with open arms, convinced that if they eat it raw and wild, they will taste the peak of joy. Yet more often than not, they discover that instead of them eating life, life has eaten them.
I recall a young man, my namesake, Emmanuel. He worked in a prominent bank, one you would expect to see him crisp in his suit and confident in stride. But one Monday morning, he walked into my office looking weary and worn, casual and shabby. His weekend of “fun” with friends had left him wasted. The hangover had not only robbed him of energy, but nearly cost him his job. Yet in that broken state, he came—not to boast of his exploits, but to confess his bondage and seek deliverance. And by God’s grace, he found freedom.
There are countless such stories of men and women chasing after the wind, pursuing a life that in the end only consumes them. Yet there are also stories—beautiful, triumphant stories—of those who have turned around, who chose instead to pursue the One who was already pursuing them. And so can you.
The Preacher in Ecclesiastes names the futility of self-indulgence, the weariness of toil, and the limits of wisdom. But he leaves a haunting silence: Where, then, is meaning found? The answer resounds not in self-obsession, but in the voice of purpose. The Westminster Shorter Catechism begins with this piercing question: “What is the chief end of man?” And the answer glows like a lamp in the fog: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.” Scripture affirms this: “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1Corinthians 10:31)
This is the life worth pursuing—the life that has already set its sights on you. God calls you not to chase shadows, but to walk in His light. Not to waste yourself in indulgence, but to invest yourself in the highest purposes He has written for you—whether in academics or career, in the sharpening of talent or in service to humanity. And when the chasing ceases, when the noise of this world fades, you will find yourself held by the One who has been guiding you all along:
“You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.
Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Psalm 73:24-26)
Beloved, do not chase the wind. Pursue the Life that pursues you. God bless you!
Rev. Eng. Dr. Emmanuel Mwesigwa - CHAPLAIN