'Cool, calm and collected' sums most often and most of us. Unless of course, personal troubles are pressing in and don't have any degree of ease. Dylan sang 'most of the time...' this about romantic love lost and coping 'most of...'

How about life-lost? A sense all gone. Or for real and opportunities, health, time and motivation to manage. Shelter and food even? Psychological onslaughts and fragility. Downtrodden and oppressed.

Understandable to get at the nagging. How gripes, under luxurious and not so struggles, seem silly. Grab ourselves is good and the slipping into self-indulgent moans.

My thought here is it's often about all one or other. Contained and no/low need for God, typical that 'other things' abound and take over. Or, falling apart and too problem focussed for even seeking the unseen but reality Who Is Present?

Too wrapped up in our affairs and done over or too riding the waves of interests and stimulation. Two traps.

Talking songs; 'Is my living in vain?' by The Clark Sisters is a soaring anthem. Bold assertions and counter-slamming questions and slinking off from bothering. More takes-telling ourselves. Speak to our soul (the deep bit) and God entwined within if invited and listening. Here to Respond. Asks that we do. Says it like this:

And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

Wants for our wanting. What though?

Always the baseline and priority is engagement. Somehow and anyhow. The why and living God-centered is because all else might seem cozy right-on but deep enough we're out of sorts. Not a fit. Not the life designed for. What is natural and made to be, yet so much, pressures the opposite.

Restraining to stop the connection. The blaring construction from; the world, our inner weak side and the entities against God and us.

Bible looking is hard going, most of the time... Takes getting past can be initial resistance and lack of desire. The always something else presenting and an alternative easier to receive. People talking -- this a big one. Never switching off. Or inside our heads chit-chat babblin' on. And off we turn. From that difficult read and distant language.

For me screen-time vs. silence and God. Easy to sort: Fast. Same with food and beer or what have you. Windows when and bang shut when the bell rings.

This after duties etc. taking what time free to choose. Not slump weary about instead of shake some action. Need 'mourning' and short holidays from -- but kept tight to the call.

Are we living in vain? Good question.

Is it 'shāwe'? Malachi uses a noun denoting ‘emptiness, worthless, nothingness, vanity’. The context and crowd are asking this and looking for gains. Obvious payback. It's the need for things. Which God is keen to oblige with but God wants us. Call it a love thing.

God responds when wanted and thereby be able to give. Best can give all and get all God can provide.

As for what counts? Relationship with the hidden but likes and longs to reveal one.