As for mortals, their days are like grass; they flourish like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. Psalm 103:15-16
“A person who doesn’t feel small – who doesn’t realize that he’s a speck – what a fundamental mistake he makes.”
Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) in Life According to Vincent, edited by Nienke Bakker and Ann Blokland (Van Gogh Museum) 156.
With these words Vincent the painter that echoes David the psalmist.
Our lives are like a speck, like a blade of grass. Here today, gone tomorrow. So, we should give every moment we have to making a contribution with the gifts and goods God has entrusted to us.
The impact we leave behind are the good deeds or the beautiful paintings that follow after us.
Van Gogh’s painting, Wheatfields under Thunderclouds, pictured above, illustrates the brevity of the life. One minute grass flourishes, then factors bring an end to its existence: from sun to storm to some animal eating it.
That’s you and me. If we fail to grasp this, we make a fundamental mistake.
To many live foolish lives. Like the rich fool they think their resources and decisions control their destiny. They’ve wrongly listed to the world’s way of thinking which tends toward comfort and self-preservation.
If we aim to get comfortable in this life, we miss the purpose of our brief existence altogether.
Don’t make the fundamental mistake. Life is short. Use what time you have to make a difference for God, to do good works which He prepared in advance for you to do. Flourish vivid green like the painting in your short life.
Live, give, serve, and love as generously as possible. You will have no regrets at the end of life.