The vanity within long flights

The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. The sun rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises. The wind blows to the south and goes around to the north; around and around goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns. All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again. All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there a thing of which it is said, “See, this is new”? It has been already in the ages before us. There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after. (Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 ESV)

And thus begins the overwhelming feeling of vanity come 36,000 feet above the earth. I'm listening to music with earbuds to forget the crying baby and young child in the seats behind me. I'm trying to ignore the slight turbulence when it came at the beginning of the flight. I'm sitting in cramped space. The week was too short but the days were too long. Dorena (another no-name post rock band from Europe) is serenading my ears and my nerves.

Megan is doing the crossword puzzle and forgetting that nothing else exists in the space of the three hour flight. My neck is stiff. I wish I had the patience to crossword puzzles. Another small window into her world.

And I want to sleep and take advantage of the two hours I've gained back with the vain time zone adjustments.

Vanity vanity vanity. And only in Christ can I really enjoy it.

Nick.