Solomon & Elizabeth Fry (Gurney)

Answer to previous quote: Kelly's Heroes

New Quote:  "Here's looking at you kid"

Elizabeth Fry:

A Quaker she believed in simple living.  Born 1780, Norwich, England.  In 1813 she visited Newgate Prison in London and was shocked by prison conditions.  She started a group of volunteers to start a school for children of prisoners.  Though often sick herself and had her own family to care for she kept reaching out to the poor and prisoners for the sake of Christ.  Her constant prayer was "Whatever I do in anything, may I do it as to thee".  She died in 1845 age 65.  This was also the era when England sent many prisoners to Botany Bay Australia.

Solomon (cont)

So I hated life because the work that is done under the sun was grevious to me.  All of it is meaningless, a chasing after teh wind.  I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me.  And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool?  Yet he will have control over all the work into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun.  This too is meaningless.  So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun.  For a man may do his work with wisdsom, knowledge and skill, and then he must leave all he owns to someone who has not worked for it.  This too is meaningless and a great misfortune.  What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun?  All his days his work is pain and grief, even at night his mind does not rest.  This too is meaningless. A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work.  This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?  To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God.  This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Analysis:
Do you wish to be wise Saheeb?  A wise man will take from Solomons words that motive and attitude are key.  The circumstances are the same for all, but the difference is whether we do it all for selfish reasons or whether we do all as unto God with thanksgiving and a servants heart.  A wise man named Jim T once told me you can't truly be thankful and have a bitter negative spirit at the same time -- it can't be done.  When you're truly thankful only love and appreciation come forth out of your heart.  Enjoy what God has blessed you with, love God, and do unto others as you'd have them do unto you.  Against such things there is no law.

"Good night sleep tight and pleasant dreams to you - here's a wish and a prayer that every dream come true and now til we meet again. adios, arivwa, aphetisan, good night!"

Anyone recognize that farewell song?