The Tale of Qoheleth

KLUMP. KLUMP. Your dress shoes echo on the tile floor of the hallway as you plod slowly toward the Sunday School classroom. It's not fair. Such a beautiful day outside. Such great TV. No school. So why do you have to go to Sunday School? Right now, your friends are watching cartoons or fishing on a peaceful lake--or sleeping in!! KLUMP. KLUMP.

As you enter the classroom, you see Mrs. Buxton is already here, of course. Your friend Elmo is drawing space ships on his lesson paper. You sit down next to him.

"Hey, Elmo," you whisper, "What kind of spaceship is that supposed to be?"
"It's a Procrustean Battlecruiser. Don't you watch the new show Trunc VIII?"

"Good morning, class," Mrs. Buxton says. "I'm SO glad you are all here today because we are going to learn the books of the Bible!"

OH NO. WHY ME?
Elmo leans over to you and whispers, "I knew I should have told Mom I wasn't feeling good this morning."

"Let's start with the New Testament books. Does anyone know the names of the four Gospels?" You nervously rock in your chair.

Mrs. Buxton looks--at you!--and says, "Elmo, can you name the four Gospels?"
WHEW. TOO BAD, ELMO.
"Umm...Luke?"
"Yes, that's right. Go on."
"Uhh, Peter, James and John?"
GREAT, ELMO.
"Nooo, not quite...but John is a Gospel..."
WHAT IF SHE CALLS ON ME? You rock harder in your chair...
"And James and Peter did write letters..."

"WHOAAA!!"The room spins, you see the ceiling for a moment, then...black.

You drift through strange places, neither awake nor asleep. Then, all becomes dark and quiet. But you sense that you are not alone.

"How do you feel?"

WHAT?! The deep voice practically makes you jump out of your skin. Your sudden movement tells you that your head is not in very good shape.

"Not too good. Who...who are you?"
"I am Qoheleth."
"Kohelleth? What kind of name is that? Where am I? Where did you come from? Please, can I wake up now?"

"You are full of questions for one who is not interested in learning." The silhouetted figure leaning over you seems amused."My name is in the Hebrew tongue. It means 'teacher.' How I come to be here is not your concern. That I am here is what is important."

The mysterious hooded figure straightens and stands tall over you. You shiver, not in terror, but in awe. Who is this? Why do you feel like you had better behave? Suddenly, you know this person deserves your respect.

"I was once young like you. In fact, long ago I was the most powerful king ever to rule Israel. I did what I pleased when I was pleased to do it. In your language I 'had it all.' But it was not enough."

NO WAY! I DON'T BELIEVE IT. "How could being a king and having it all not be enough?" You surprise yourself by daring to speak at all. "I..I mean, I'd be happy with a .. a Pentium II 450 computer ... yeah, if I were a king, I could get my own T-3 line! And a 25-inch monitor, no, wait, don't they make a 33 inch digital monitor now..."

"Your desires grow even as you speak." Qoheleth brings your chatter to an end. He seems very kingly now, and very wise. "They will always grow, always larger, always just out of reach. Even if you become a king."

Qoheleth lowers his hood, and on his head you see a magnificent crown, the crown of a great king. But he speaks to you now not only as a king, but as a brother, a father, and a friend.

"Listen to me, my child, and I will speak of what really matters. Not wealth, not fame and popularity, not cunning handiwork such as your computers. You are only here on earth for a little while, and then all of this will be gone. It will go to others, and you will leave it all behind. But to know God, to have His Word and His people in your heart--these things will never leave you. They last forever."

A light begins to shine behind Qoheleth, getting brighter by the moment. You know something is about to happen. Qoheleth looks at you and nods, as if to confirm your thoughts.

"I will be your teacher now. I will teach you what your Mrs. Buxton strove to teach you. You are going on a journey, my child. You will visit places of long ago--from the days when I walked the earth, and even before. You will find treasure of two kinds on your journey: treasure of earth, which can decay or be lost or stolen; and treasure from heaven, which does not decay and which cannot be taken from you. Enjoy the earthly treasure, for it is a gift from God. But, remember, only the heavenly treasure, which God's Word surely is, lasts forever."

The light grows brighter and brighter. You can hardly see anything in its dazzling brilliance.

"Go, my child, and may the Lord bless you and keep you."