This week we learned that Kohelet decided to look into toil to find meaning in life. The Amal has finally been introduced. In the very beginning of the Perek, we see that Kohelet changes to 1st person POV. The Amal has an interesting view of the world. His main goal is to make the world a better place by ridding it of injustice. He decides that if he'd rather never have been born than not be able to make the world a better place. Kind of a drama queen.
As Kohelet looks more closely into the life of workers, he finds two problems: 1. work creates competition and jealousy that prevents man from accomplishment and 2. if you don't have someone to give your work to, then what's the point?
As these problems are obstacles in finding meaning in the Amal perspective of life, Kohelet would naturally want to find a solution. He comes up with the idea that two people working together are better than one. This would solve both problems: there is no competition if you work together and you have someone to give your work to. So if two people working together is so great, imagine three people! Four! Five! What if the entire nation could work together? If Kohelet could get the entire nation to work together under him as the king, maybe he has a shot at making an impact on the world.
What a great solution! If only it would have worked. However, as we know, Shlomo failed in his attempts to make an impact because he became corrupted. Therefore he decides (quite pompously) that if he can't make an impact on the world, than no one can. What a snot!
Now that Kohelet has looked at the Amal and crossed it off his list, he turns to religion. Personally, I found that this view was considerably more optimistic than the others, though it just seems as if he is just responding to the Amal and the Neheneh.
We see in פרקים ד-ה that Kohelet once again changes his point of view. We can conclude from the fact that he changes from 1st person to 2nd person POV that he is responding to the other views.
In the beginning of Perek ד, he responds to the Amal, who thinks that man has ultimate control, saying that he shouldn't believe that man can manipulate the spiritual as well as the physical- don't be like the fools who go the Beit Hamikdash to bring Korbanot because they think it will justify their sins. Kohelet also tells the Amal not to make vows you cannot fulfill, because it implies that you believe you are in control of your future, when G-d truly has ultimate control.
In Perek ד we also see Kohelet's response to the Neheneh. He says that G-d AND man have control- G-d has ultimate control in שמים and man has control on Earth.
In the beginning of Perek ה, he decides that man must have a partner-ship with G-d and try to accomplish things in life=> do not get upset by the הבל!!! He then uses this philosophy to tell the Amal and the Neheneh that in life man should try to accomplish. He explains that it is the process that counts, and if the Amal is constantly looking for perfection, he will never be satisfied. He also explains this to the Neheneh, saying that if he doesn't put in any effort, he will never find meaning.
I consider myself a perfectionist in some aspects. I am very particular about my handwriting as well as my planner. It's very annoying to have to make everything perfect, but it's even more annoying to have it below perfection. On Google, I found an article labeled "Let Go of Perfectionism: It's the Leap That Counts", and I was immediately intrigued. After reading it, I decided that it would be a great lesson for me and for Kohelet, and it's a shame the internet didn't exist during his time.
The author, Jennifer Boykin, explains how she was a perfectionist and how exhausting it was. While reading this, I couldn't help but imagine that if the Amal were to write an article, that is exactly how it would sound. Boykin even states that "it wasn't sustainable" and she wasn't happy. At the end of the article she discusses ideas that I believe would be uplifting to the Amal, if he would have been able to see it. She states that "it's the leap that counts. Not the results." echoing the perspective of the יראי אלקים.
How do you think the Amal would have responded to this article?
Link: http://tinybuddha.com/blog/let-go-of-perfectionism-its-the-leap-that-counts/
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