Ecclesiastes 1:14 clearly describes human activity: “All is vanity and chasing the wind.” The “wind” is not merely moving air. On a deeper level, the “wind” to which Ecclesiastes refers is the seeking of human approval. Why do we wear what we do? Human approval. Why do we drive what we do? Human approval. Why do we have our hair the way we do? Human approval. Our dwelling, occupation, and education, are all influenced by the opportunity to gain approval from others.
Nearly everything we say and do is done to gain approval from others at, or slightly above, our own level.
When we have done something to gain approval, we often mention it. “I bought/sold/said/attended/met/went/found/hired/designed/built/read/painted/was hired/ and so on and on and on with whatever we’ve done that we feel is worthy of approval. When we analyze our conversation, “I” is frequent and is always followed by mentioning some specific thing we’ve done to gain approval. The “I” may be followed by something as simple as “agree”.
“I agree with you.” is a way to gain approval by giving approval.
Usually, we seek to gain more direct approval for ourselves. “I” is followed by a spoken, or implied, “am” which is then followed by “smart/kind/good/tough/strong/honest/decent/caring/scary/powerful/successful/handsome/beautiful/well dressed/fast/decisive/calculating/clever and more of the thousands of words that let people know: “This is one way I chased the wind. How can you help but approve?”
We may reflect on something we have just done or told someone to see that it was meant to gain approval for us or disapproval for another. Nearly everything we say and do is done to gain approval from others. That is the “wind” we chase. “All is vanity and chasing the wind.”
What is the last wind you chased? How well do you remember the last wind that someone else chased to gain your approval?
Chasing the wind can be very lucrative. Those seeking votes continually chase approval. Some use professional advertisers to gain approval. The huge winds chased by political and big business interests can blow away lesser vanities.
No matter how hard the gusts and gales, “All is vanity and chasing the wind.”
