The Convenience of Narcissism

Chapter Ten- Vanity!

When he was young, a boy named Solomon prayed to God for something that young people usually would not even realize was worth having. It was approximately three thousand years ago, give or take. His father would become one of the most well-known kings in world history.

Legends like King Arthur are modeled after the personality of King David of ancient Israel. David made many mistakes in his lifetime. He loved God though and always tried to do things that he believed would please his God. If you spend time researching this man in your copy of the Bible you will often come across odd behaviors in David that indicate he may have tapped into an understanding of the topic we have been considering throughout this book. He said and did things that would lead you to believe he had read the sermon on the mount over a thousand years before the words left the mouth of Jesus of Nazareth who was also called "the Son of David."

David is famous for his well-known battle with a very large man by the name of Goliath. Throughout his life he had opportunities to embrace his inner NARC. However, each time the opportunity arose he chose a different path. There were a few exceptions which were met with God's visible displeasure. I will name the three big ones for our accusing audience but make no mistake, the overall pattern of this man indicated that he knew the same secret as others we have discussed in this book.

These are the three great sins of David: (1) He tried to bring the ark of the covenant home to Israel without checking the scriptures on the correct procedure. (2) He took a census to make sure his military was strong enough to win a war if needed. (3) He stole another man's wife and arranged for that man to die by placing him in the frontlines of his army. These three very narcissistic actions cost David dearly, but they do not define his overall life. Although David did these terrible things, he had a redeeming quality that showed he was at war with his inner NARC. David knew that even if he fell down, he could always get up again and carry on the war against his greatest foe, himself. Sometimes we may think that because our inner NARC is in us it is us. Our inner NARC is not of God's design. It is an interloper. It is a free-radical that causes cancer in the universe. Old Papa NARC bore it first. It is a potential byproduct of free-will, but it is a choice. It is not an inevitable result of free-will. This is the true lie that Papa NARC is selling to the human race. Don't you believe it!

David's failings resulted in the deaths of thousands and some might think that God would never forgive him for the harm he did. Despite this God did forgive him. This is why his story is so important. You see Solomon was born from the woman who David stole. He was not David's firstborn son. He was in no way heir to the throne of Israel. His older male siblings would literally NARC each other to death until he was the only choice left. This story had more drama than a modern- day soap opera, but when it was all said and done Solomon was made king as David's choice, but more importantly as God's choice. This led this young boy to a pivotal moment in his life.

Solomon asked God to give him the one thing that a king would need most. He asked for wisdom. Not for riches, or long life. He asked for wisdom. God heard his prayer. He received both the wisdom he had requested and all the things he had not requested. Solomon would now begin to spout the same word over and over again. He was famous for many proverbs. He wrote a number of Bible books. One in particular will be the focus of this chapter and the next. It is known as Ecclesiastes. It means congregator or congregation.

The first time I read this book I thought there was something wrong with Solomon. I even humorously dubbed it "Solomon's Bad Day." It would be many decades before my eyes would be opened, just as Solomon's had been to see the dark passenger in our midst. Solomon sounded like a broken record. It was like he had what we call today obsessive-compulsive disorder. However, Solomon didn't have O.C.D he just couldn't stop talking about his discovery. He didn't call it a NARC or narcissism, or an ego. He didn't even call it sin, although it was the source of all sin.

His many proverbs, like the writings of Jesus of Nazareth were advising on how to manage it. He never spoke of it directly in the proverbs. However, when he wrote Ecclesiastes, he couldn't shut up about it. It might be because that Bible book focuses on death so precisely. Perhaps Solomon wanted everyone to know about it before they die. Perhaps he realized that sin leads to death, but this thing leads to sin. This was a revelation that he had no intention of taking with him to the grave. It would be revealed in what he wrote.

Not every Bible translation uses the same word. Some use words like futility, or emptiness to convey the essence of the Hebrew text. While these words highlight the end results of self centered pursuit. There is another word that elegantly captures the driving force that leaves us feeling empty and alone, and makes life feel futile. The King James Version and the American Standard Version are a few that use the word. Perhaps you do not like my constant rantings about narcissism. Perhaps it's time we introduce an old word that reveals the truth of this concept. Perhaps it is finally time that the human race recognizes the real power that lies in our own reflection. Solomon used this one word repeatedly, nearly thirty times. It has been the title of this entire chapter and it will lead us into the next.

As you turn the page remember that I am not the source of this information. This is not a personal opinion. I am not writing this for my own selfish interests. Or maybe I am. Either way the words of Solomon are as true now as they were Three Thousand years ago. "This too is Vanity!"