28/52 like the grass of the field

David Brainerd died when he was 29. The natural, secular response might be, "What a shame-- to be gone so young." But the length of one's life has little to do with its value. Could he have accomplished much more had he lived longer? Probably, but he didn't. But in that brief span of 29 years, he accomplished more than some of us might in 92.

Why is that? What is it that motivates people to live vastly richer lives? Among other things, I believe that he understood the transiency of this life. We seem to take for granted the number of our days. We're told that we should have five- and even ten-year plans. To not do so would be short-sighted and irresponsible. But the problem with such long term plans is that we can begin to live as if our time is nearly infinite. We put off today what we believe can be done tomorrow. But one of these days we will run out of tomorrows.

"Oh how precious is time, and how it pains me to see it slide way, while I do so little to any good purpose." - David Brainerd

"All people are like grass,
    and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;

the grass withers and the flowers fall, 
    but the word of the Lord endures forever."