Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Dust or Design?


I've already let you know I'm not a science chick. Well, I'm not a numbers girl either. Nothing terrified me more in 5th grade than my own personal nemesis -- long division board races. But these numbers, these numbers I'm about to write down...they grabbed my attention.


Francis Chan was alluding to the brevity of our lives in his book, Crazy Love when he mentions, "Throughout time, somewhere between forty-five billion and one hundred twenty-five billion people have lived on this earth." And then, just for fun he wrote the number out, "That's 125,000,000,000."


So what do you make of that? Are we merely dust in the wind? People to be forgotten? Or are we unique and intentionally crafted vessels for God to use?


I'm sure you have an opinion. I do and if you've been reading my blog at all, you've learned I'm not too bashful to share it.


I think we are both. I think we are dust, living for only a speck on the timeline of all life and living beings. But I also think we have purpose and we have influence and we are a design like no other.


How do you respond to the enormity of those numbers (and what about the gap in between)?


Are we dust or design? Or are we both?

6 comments:

  1. I think you already know that I agree with you. The vast expanse of God's mind and His creations reminds me that I am indeed dust--but dust with heavenly potential.

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  2. Someday we will pass on and have a perfect understanding. For now, I walk by faith.

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  3. Wow, what a number! When I actually think about being just one among that number, I do feel pretty insignificant in the scope of history! But that makes God's love for us even more amazing. He cares about and knows about every single detail of my insignificant life.

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  4. Crazy Love, indeed! That number is unfathomable...although it did help when I was teaching my 5th grader math awhile back. I had to help HER understand BIG numbers. It kinda helped me wrap my brain it. Kinda. :-)

    Isn't it amazing that we can be BOTH dust and design. The more I learn, the less I know!!!

    Keep sharing your opinion, my Friend, I love that you're not bashful! I've been learning how to come out of my shell myself lately.

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  5. I agree with you, and think Louisa said what I was thinking, perfectly. We were created with a devine purpose.

    Just dropped in to welcome you to the SITStahood! Hope you are having a great spring day!

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  6. Yes, that number seems to wash out the single person...but it's true that God does know and love all of us individually.. it's an amazing thing, especially when you consider THAT number. Wow. Stopping by from SITS!

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