Devotionals

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If politicians' words are to be believed we are now aware of a new and real threat to the longevity of public life. In the past a politician's future had many threats - misconduct, malpractice, corruption, internal backstabbing, bad judgment, bad media coverage, bad economic news and even bad luck. But now a new and ominous threat has put fear into every politician in Australia. Last week the Premier of NSW, Bob Carr, resigned and retired. I was quite convinced that the real reason behind this shock resignation was that Bob Carr was given a free ticket to the Retirement and Lifestyle Expo held the previous weekend. But Mr Carr's reason was different. The 'real'reason was that he went for a walk with his wife in the sun on a sunny weekend and it seemed he just knew it was time to go.

Yesterday came another shock resignation. Now the deputy Premier, Dr Refshauge, has resigned as well. And did you notice that very quietly at the end of the press conference, Dr Refshauge admitted that his decision must have been influenced by another sunny Sydney weekend. A third senior NSW politician resigned today and the sunny Sydney winter weather seems destined to bring more careers to an end. There is even a rumour (that I am starting) that the federal treasurer has booked two seats to take the Prime Minister to the Gold Coast this weekend, in the expectation of sunny weather which he hopes will encourage Mr Howard to bring forward his retirement plans.

It is interesting that deep in the centre of the old section of the old book there is a troubled man whose thoughts are revealed in the book of Ecclesiastes. He too somewhat suffered because of the sun. It is well worth a read of the whole book, but suffice to say that his reflection on a sunny day concluded that maybe his life did not mean much.

"Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun." (Eccl. 2:11, NIV)

Maybe when we sit under the sun we all sometimes ponder the question - " there has to be more? ". There has to be more than work, power, success and material pursuits. There comes a point in every life where it is worth taking stock and asking not only career questions, but also eternal questions.

And if you read the whole book of Ecclesiastes, you will discover the answer is beyond this material world. Each one of us needs to consider our creator, make our peace with Him on His terms and see life as spiritual and eternal, as well as material and terminal.

So bring on the sun I say. It may cause us all to stop and consider our lives.

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