When my son came to San Jose, we discussed what to do while he was here. I asked to go to the Muir Woods National Monument. I hadn’t been there in a number of years—since before the Pandemic.

As you may know, Muir Woods is an easy place to see Redwoods if you live in San Jose. Depending on traffic, it’s about a 2-hour drive, going north through San Francisco and over the Golden Gate Bridge.

As I walked among the towering Redwoods, I thought of Psalm 90, called “a prayer of Moses the Man of God.”

This prayer begins by declaring: “Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations . . . from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” (Psalm 90:1-2).

This declaration came to my mind because I was accompanying three generations of my family: my wife and I; our children; and our grandchild.

Usually, I think that three generations span a long period of time. But in comparison to God—who is “from everlasting to everlasting”—three generations “quickly pass, and we fly away”. (Psalm 90:2,10).

The brevity of our lives is underscored by the longevity of the Redwoods. Many of the trees I walked among had lived more than a thousand years—since the time of knights and castles. Redwoods in other California forests have lived more than 2,000 years—since the time of Jesus and the Roman Empire.

In comparison, God “sweep[s] people away in the sleep of death—they are like the new grass of the morning: In the morning it springs up new, but by evening it is dry and withered.” (Psalm 90:5-6).

I remember being on a family trip to Washington, D.C. with my grandfather (a hard-working farmer). He was born in the late 1800s and was about as old as I am now.

My grandfather walked around D.C. so fast that we could barely keep up with him. In contrast, during this trip to Muir Woods, my children bought me a walking stick in the gift shop!

Furthermore, I definitely know how it feels to grow old amidst aches, pains and moans—even with the help of acetaminophen and ibuprofen! (Psalm 90:9).

My grandson stood in front of a cross-section of a Redwood that was cut down when it was 1000 years old—100 times older than he is. He’s not nearly as tall as the cross-section.

I couldn’t help but think of how short 1,000 years is from the perspective of God.

As Psalm 90 says: “A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by.” (Psalm 90:4).

In comparison, the “70 years” of my life truly are like the new grass of the morning: In the morning of my life, I sprang up new, but as evening approaches, I am becoming dry and withered. (Psalm 90:5-6: Ecclesiastes 12:1-7).

Obviously, my life is too short to establish the work of my hands. Indeed, even five generations of my family is too short to establish the work of my hands.

As I hobbled among the Redwoods with my walking stick, I knew that—like Moses—we must pray to the God who is from everlasting to everlasting, who is our dwelling place for all generations:

Teach us to number our days

that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Satisfy us every morning with your unfailing love,

that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

May your deeds be shown to your servants,

your splendor to their children.

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;

Establish the work of our hands for us

    —yes, establish the work of our hands.

(Psalm 90:12-17)

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

What do you believe is the work of your hands?

Can this work of your hands be established within your lifespan—or even within the lifespan of five generations?

Do you feel as if your life is like grass that sprang up new in the morning, but is becoming dry and withered as the evening of your life approaches? How? Why?

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For more of my thoughts about Psalm 90, please read “PART TWO Establishing the Work of Your Hands: Moses” in my book The Promised Land, at pages 73-120.

For related thoughts, please read my blogs “A Tiny Redwood Seed”, “Hesed Establishes the Work of Moses’s Hands—Mount Nebo”, “Immanuel: Moses”, “Places of Worship—Burning Bushes”, “Building the Temple—Moses”, and “The Prayer of Moses”.