Futile (adjective): having no effect, achieving nothing, incapable of producing any result. Useless, not successful, trifling, frivolous, unimportant.
A visit with my friend Don leads to conversation about the word ‘futile’. Philosopher by temperament and training, Don talks about the ‘futile vase’ of ancient Rome. Wide at the top and pointed below, a futile vase can not be set down without tipping and spilling its contents. Its purpose is to carry water to the temple for use in sacred washing rituals. Unrelated to productivity or efficiency, the futile vase holds an important role in the spiritual life of the community.
Today, our culture is in love with productivity and efficiency and has no use for the futile. But I prefer the ancient paradigm. It shines a different light on what I might otherwise convince myself is, “unimportant…having no effect.”
Like a writing practice.
So often I despair what I write is irrelevant and insignificant. Futile. Yet a deeper understanding suggests life of the heart exists aside from practical or economic concerns. Life of the heart calls for attention and gives back in subtle ways. Did not the whole world receive a gift when Vincent Van Gogh made visible the beauty of a sunflower?
Renewed by Don’s account of the futile vase, I give myself permission to pour forth–untethered by usefulness and productivity. I offer my open-hearted, futile best to Life’s transcendent fire.