What is man? lol

This semester I've had the privilege to teach U.S. History for the first time. It's fascinating to see U.S. history from this new perspective-as a nearly 40 year old man. Interpreting our history with some experience allows for much greater insight than I had as an inept high school and college student. I had the world figured out back then and it seemed that everyone who had influence over me saw the world from the same perspective. It was the Regan era, a time of "prosperity", supply-side economics, tax cuts, and a common enemy-the USSR. I was young, energetic and naive. I though I was invincible!

Although the framework through which I interpret the world has been challenge and dismantled and I usually find myself ambiguous and schizophrenic with many of my positions on life, one belief has strengthen over time. This perspective is best communicated in the meditation of David, found in Psalm 8.

³ When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,

⁴ what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?

In light of our insignificance and transitory condition, how can arrogance make it's way into our hearts? When I recognize that my life is but a blip on the radar screen of history, how can I ever respond with anything but humility and gratefulness to our great Father and Creator. The vastness of the universe and the delicate construction and balance of even the smallest of substances is enough to bring about an audible laugh when we encounter our selfishness and pride.

David finishes with the conclusion that we are valuable, but only because of our Creator God's image stamped upon us. This is The Message translation. Although Peterson takes liberty in his translation/interpretation, I think he gets the tone correct.

Yet we've so narrowly missed being gods,
bright with Eden's dawn light.
You put us in charge of your handcrafted world,
repeated to us your Genesis-charge,
Made us lords of sheep and cattle,
even animals out in the wild,
Birds flying and fish swimming,
whales singing in the ocean deeps.

⁹ God, brilliant Lord,
your name echoes around the world.

We matter because God matters! Because we are His unrivaled creation, we have purpose, value, and permanence. And although my life may only be a faint ink spot in the annals of history, I can take confidence that the Immortal God, the Ancient of Days, placed me here for this brief journey. And during this time, I want to echo His name, not my own, around the world!