Don Quixote
Sometimes a man of my age feels like Don Quixote; one day you find the world you used to live in is gone and the world around you is strange and unfamiliar. According to the story, Don Quixote mentally lived in an age that was long past; Quixote didn’t know the times had changed so he wore a suit of armor and fought his enemies with an old-fashioned jousting lance. He was oblivious to the fact that his perceived enemies were actually just windmills. Our hero’s value system and perception of life was anachronistic and he was considered to be mad.
I hate to admit it, but I have felt empathy with old Don Quixote at times, but the difference is, I know the times have changed. I’m not mad, just a little miffed because I miss certain things about the old days. I’m sorry to say, despite all the technological improvements, I think we’ve slipped down the proverbial slide as a society ethically and morally. We’ve regressed and devolved, yet we boast that we’ve come a long way and are so sophisticated.
I’m beginning to understand what Solomon meant in Ecclesiastes when he said, vanity, vanity all is vanity. Don’t get me wrong, the point I’m making is actually positive. Yeah, I miss the Beatles and “Leave it to Beaver,” but I am coming around to the point that Solomon was really making; yes all is vanity, that’s why we need the Lord. Any human effort to find success and fulfillment will be frustrated, our satisfaction can only be found in the Lord….that’s the good news!
I have to check myself by asking the rhetorical question, am I aimlessly swinging my sword at windmills? (perceived enemies) Ouch! OK, Don Quixote and I may have something in common after all; so here’s what I really want to do… begin wielding the Sword of the Spirit in such a way that I will be the one who changes. Knowing that in the Lord we find our satisfaction, our peace, our solace and our home. And by the way, the real enemy hates and dreads the sword of the Spirit.
in Jesus’ name!
