During Solomon’s lifetime Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, lived in safety, everyone under their own vine and under their own fig tree. – 1 Kings 4:25

Today's Scripture Reading (October 13, 2022): 1 Kings 4

In 1966, Robert Kennedy said, "There is a Chinese curse which says 'May he live in interesting times.' Like it or not, we live in interesting times. Interesting times are times of danger and uncertainty; but they are also more open to the creative energy of men than any other time in history." Kennedy spoke about the apprehension of the 1960s over what the future might hold. But maybe the most interesting part of the declaration is the assertion that the saying is a Chinese proverb. If there is an actual Chinese curse that states, "may you live in interesting times," there doesn't seem to be any record of it. It appears that the curse is much more recent than ancient China. In fact, the proverb seems to originate in the early part of the 20^th Century.

While the "Chinese Proverb" sounds more like a blessing than a curse, British playwright Hanif Kureishi offers us a similar blessing that sounds more like a curse. Kureishi argues that "Security and safety are the reward of dullness." None of us would probably say that we are chasing after dullness in our lives, but at the same time, we all dream of living in security and safety. We believe that security and safety should be the right of every person who lives on our beloved planet. This means, at least according to Kureishi, that we aspire toward dullness. And that dull times might be infinitely better than interesting ones.

In ancient Israel, the same idea of security and safety was often described with a different proverb; "that everyone should live under their own vine and under their own fig tree." The strange phrase indicated to ancient populations a time of peace and the concept of having enough. And during the days of Solomon, all of Israel experienced this kind of peace. The nation was secure from its enemies, both inside and out. Solomon did not live in interesting times. His world was dull, and that was not a bad thing.

May our lives be dull as well, and may we find our rest under our own vine and our own fig tree. And may we always avoid any interesting times.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 5