12 For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few years of his futile life? He will spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun? Ecclesiastes 6:12

One of the most frustrating things of life is decision-making based on what we believe the future holds. We choose schools, invest our money, select a job, take a vacation, buy survival gear on the basis of skewed, flawed prognostications.

Solomon tells us no one knows what’s around the corner. This scares the daylights out of the risk averse. These types constantly opt for the protection plan, and they’re first to boast of their foresight when calamity hits.

But the message here is more “eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die.” Enter the insouciant man, who sets sail in unpredictable waters, and phones back on the wonderful time he’s having, inciting the hand wringer’s envy!

What a fine line we walk! There are those who can barely get out of bed, and those who plunge headlong into the abyss on a mountain bike.

I get the feeling, though, Solomon would err on the side of “living a little,” rather than burying his head in the sand.