Tinker Toys

"Meaningless! Meaningless!"

says the Teacher.

Utterly meaningless!

Everything is meaningless."
- Ecclesiastes 1:2

I have been thinking about the name of this toy. The word “tinker” makes it sound so unimportant and inconsequential. It is ironic to think that some of the things that we consider just “tinkering” can, in fact, spur on imagination, ingenuity and maybe even genius. On the other hand I wonder if we will one day look back on so many of the things that we considered important, the things into which we invested so much time, energy and resources, and realize that they were really just meaningless. The writer of Ecclesiastes explored such ideas, and concluded that, in reality, everything about our existence and pursuits is meaningless – that is, outside of a relationship with our Creator. Wisdom, pleasure, toil, advancement, riches or politics apart from God are purposeless. It is only through a relationship with the Creator of the universe that we might come to recognize our proper place in the world, and the plans and purposes that God has for us. Only then can we enjoy life as a gift from God, and find purpose as we discern God’s will (accepting that our perspective will always be limited) for our life.

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter:

Fear God and keep his commandments,

for this is the whole duty of man.
- Ecclesiastes 12:13