Finding Meaning in a World of Vanity: A Modern Parable About What Truly Matters
Finding meaning remains our greatest challenge in today’s fast-paced society. The endless pursuit of success, money, and recognition fills each of our days. In this whirlwind of events and aspirations, the ancient wisdom of Ecclesiastes sounds remarkably relevant: “Vanity of vanities, said Koheleth; vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” But what does this mean for us today? How can we apply this timeless wisdom in an era of social media, corporate ladders, and the endless pursuit of happiness?
The Struggle of Finding Meaning: A Parable About Modern Man
Michael was a successful director of a large technology company. His calendar was always filled with meetings, his phone constantly buzzed with notifications, and at night he would wake up thinking about unfinished projects.
He had a luxurious apartment in the city center that he rarely saw in daylight, an expensive car in which he mostly sat in traffic jams, and a collection of expensive watches that he only looked at to see how late he was for another meeting.
“I’ve achieved everything I wanted,” he would tell himself while scrolling through Instagram, where his friends displayed even more impressive achievements. Despite outward success, inside was an emptiness that neither promotions, bonuses, nor likes on social media could fill.
An Unexpected Stop: When Vanity Pauses
One day, the elevator in the business center where Michael’s office was located broke down between floors. Inside were only Michael and an elderly security guard (whose name, in fact, Michael had never bothered to remember), who had worked in the building for many years.
“Looks like we’ll have to wait,” said the old man with a smile, taking a thermos of tea and sandwiches from his bag. “Don’t worry, they’ll find us quickly. In the meantime — would you like some tea?”
Michael nervously looked at his watch. “I have a meeting in 10 minutes! And a presentation for investors after lunch! I can’t just sit here!”
“And what if you miss these meetings?” the security guard calmly asked.
“It would be a disaster! I could lose an important contract, or investors might think I’m not serious, or…”
“And then what? The end of the world?” The old man poured tea into small cups.
Wisdom in an Unexpected Place: Lessons from a Stranger
“You know,” said the guard, “when I was young, I was just like you. Building an empire, not sleeping at night, missing my children’s childhood… And then my company went bankrupt in one day because of an economic crisis. And do you know what I realized?”
Michael silently looked at the old man, for the first time in a long time actually listening to another person.
“All of this is vanity of vanities. All this race, all these achievements that seem so important. Ecclesiastes was right: ‘הֲבֵ֤ל הֲבָלִים֙ אָמַ֣ר קֹהֶ֔לֶת הֲבֵ֥ל הֲבָלִ֖ים הַכֹּ֥ל הָֽבֶל’ — vanity of vanities, all is vanity. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t work or strive for something. It means you need to understand the true value of things.”
Finding Meaning Through Reevaluating Values
While they waited for the rescue team, the stranger told Michael his story — about the rise and fall of his business, how he rebuilt relationships with his family, and about the simple joys he discovered in everyday life.
“The most valuable thing we have is time, and how we spend it. Finding meaning isn’t in an endless pursuit of what will soon turn to dust, but in real relationships, in small moments of joy, in things that truly matter.”
When the elevator was finally fixed, Michael thanked the old man and instead of rushing to his meeting, for the first time in a long time, he called his mother, with whom he hadn’t spoken in months.
Practical Steps to Finding Meaning Beyond Vanity
- Regularly stop and ask yourself: “Will this matter in 5 years?” If not, perhaps it’s not worth spending so much energy on.
- Make time for silence: 15 minutes a day without gadgets, social media, and news can become a saving island in an ocean of information noise.
- Invest in relationships: Research shows that the quality of our relationships is the main factor in long-term happiness.
- Find a balance between ambition and acceptance: Strive for the best, but learn to find joy in the present moment as well.
- Define your true values: Finding meaning requires knowing what really matters to you at the end of the day. Is it money, status, power — or something deeper?
Conclusion: The Wisdom of Koheleth in the Modern World
The story of Michael and the old man reminds us that even in today’s success-oriented and achievement-focused world, the ancient wisdom of Ecclesiastes remains relevant. “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity” is not a call to pessimism or inaction, but an invitation to a more conscious life where we distinguish what is truly valuable from what is merely a passing fancy.
In a world that constantly demands more, faster, better from us, perhaps the most radical act is to stop, look around, and ask yourself: “Where am I finding meaning in my life?” The journey of finding meaning may be the most important journey we ever take.
Source: Kohelet (Ecclesiastes) – Chapter 1:2 – “הֲבֵ֤ל הֲבָלִים֙ אָמַ֣ר קֹהֶ֔לֶת הֲבֵ֥ל הֲבָלִ֖ים הַכֹּ֥ל הָֽבֶל” – “Vanity of vanities, said Koheleth, vanity of vanities, all is vanity”.
Afterword: The text of this article has not been approved by any sage, Torah scholar, or rabbi and is merely a simplified adaptation of the sacred text for general understanding. For comprehension of true wisdom and a deeper understanding of the original text, you should refer to the sources.
