10 of those

Holding Together Life’s Brevity and Goodness

I picked up Eat, Drink, and Be Merry: A Gospel Call to Bold Enjoyment by Ray Ortlund because the title immediately intrigued me. I expected a tightly written and deeply structured exploration of Ecclesiastes. While the book had meaningful insights, I found it somewhat scattered and at times difficult to follow. What I did appreciate was the central takeaway: Ecclesiastes teaches that life is short and life is good. That tension—between brevity and goodness—felt biblically faithful and pastorally helpful. Ortlund highlights how Solomon acknowledges the limits and frustrations of life while still urging us to receive God’s gifts with gratitude and joy. That emphasis on enjoying God’s everyday blessings was encouraging and worth reflecting on. However, I couldn’t shake the sense that the book is written more toward a younger audience—perhaps those just beginning to wrestle with big questions about meaning, purpose, and mortality. As someone in my mid-40s, I didn’t find much of it personally challenging or new. Many of the insights felt introductory rather than deeply probing. Readers newer to Ecclesiastes might benefit more from this approach, but I was hoping for a more layered or comprehensive study. That said, I don’t regret reading it. I’m walking away with a renewed commitment to accept my limits while savouring my joys. Solomon’s message—life’s shortness paired with life’s goodness—is one I want to hold onto. We cannot control everything, nor can we escape the reality of time passing, but we can gratefully receive what God places in our hands today. While this particular book may not be the one I return to for deeper study of Ecclesiastes, it served as a reminder to live faithfully within my limits and to boldly enjoy the good gifts God gives. Although the book didn’t quite resonate with me as expected, I appreciate the opportunity to reflect on its message about the brevity and goodness of life.

Bianca