The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, asking him for a sign from heaven, to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, ‘Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.’ And he left them, and getting into the boat again, he went across to the other side. (Mark 8: 11-13)

In Matthew's gospel Jesus is more expansive. "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.' And in the morning, 'There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times?"(Matthew 16: 2-3)

Many signs had been given and explained and explained again. The signs were there for all those with eyes to see and ears to hear.

But the signs pointed toward an outcome inconsistent with what was expected.

A good friend has had considerable success. He is now at a place in life where financially and in many other ways he is free to choose whatever he wants. He is not sure what he wants. But he perceives a very strong need for financial feedback to affirm his value. Money is not needed in any practical way, but it is a potent signal that he is going the right way.

My friend is not greedy. But he is addicted to money as a sign of progress. Financial returns are the signs for which he is looking and in which he has confidence.

There are other signs - pointing toward other destinations - requiring a different kind of discernment. For at least 2500 years most of the wisdom literature of the great cultures has encouraged cultivation of this discernment. Each generation has usually given lip service to this greater discernment while - mostly - choosing to follow signs toward wealth, power, or prestige.

No wonder Jesus sighed.

Above is Three Forms by Robert Motherwell.