‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ is a BBC show
tracing the family tree of well-known actors, presenters, sports-people, and
the like. The eighteenth series kicked off last night, following comedian Josh
Widdicombe. I can’t claim to have seen every single episode, but—no spoilers—this
latest was the most incredible I have seen, in part because of the stories
uncovered, and in part because Widdicombe is so engaged and engaging.
When genealogy is brought to life by
historians who raise the dead for us, the pursuit resonates with our shared
human experience. The ancient writer Qohelet (aka Ecclesiastes) explored these
themes. Qohelet impresses upon us the acknowledgement that life is as ephemeral
and fleeting—and wonderous—as breath, wind. Moreover, we experience a great
evil—not a moral evil, but an existential one—that all are brought low by
death. Time and chance happen to all. The powerful are brought low; we work
hard, only for some other, some stranger, to benefit. This being so, Qohelet
advises that we take joy in the gift of life while it is ours. That we embrace
life fully, while holding it lightly, and always mindful of the One who is
Giver and Hallower and Sustainer of Life.
We see just such things in the stories of our
great-great-many-times-great-grandparents, in their rising and falling, their
opportunities and tragedies. In death, we sleep with our ancestors. In life, we
work and eat and drink with them, hopefully finding satisfaction. In the lives
to come, generations as yet unborn, the story continues, held in the love of
God, who has made the world this way, in hope that we might ever reach out
towards that love and hope held for us.
No comments:
Post a Comment