In Ecclesiastes 9:9-12 Solomon was telling people how to live and love life, with their families. He was being sarcastic because these folks loved human life more than any Godly relationship. The Jewish folks lived for this life only, forgetting that there was an eternal side that must be sought. They had made a promise to God and Abraham that they would be faithful to their Old Testament oath. Now, the Jews were rebelling against that promise and were hedonistic in their daily needs. Solomon’s call was to wake these people up. The prize of earth is not wealth or land. Life is a race that includes heaven. The apostle Paul used that analogy as well; life is a race. Paul lived in the days of the ancient Olympics and watched these runners compete. The Jews of the Exodus knew God, they ate his food but refused the prize of salvation and direction. I wonder how God felt about their rebellion? Looking at some old pictures one day, the race of Paul’s time brought back memories of a race our son ran in Middle school. His meet was at the Grinnell high school. Some sprinters do not like to run distances longer than two hundred meters. He was grumbly and torqued that the coach had entered him in the 400. The runners got set and eight of them took off, well seven anyway. Our son was just loping along, all the time looking at the coach. My countenance was put to the test. I was tormented that he was intentionally blowing his race. I wonder how God feels when we give up on what He wants us to complete. Our loping-son suddenly stopped to size up the situation, then took off like someone lit his backside on fire. By the time they came around the third turn, he was about to catch the lead runners and at the finish line, he blew by them to take the win. I never knew why he did what he did and now, it is too late. He lost his life to a drunk driver at an early age. I am so glad he decided to re-enter the race. I feel that his re-entering and winning showed an earthly view of his search for his eternal home.