Benjamin Franklin was born January 17 and died April 17, his lifetime on earth being the space of exactly 84 years 3 months. Anytime I see 84, one of my favorite Psalms comes to mind, Psalm 84, which I know has 12 verses. When I made the discovery of Franklin's arrival on the 17th and departure on the same, I looked up Psalm 84:3, and was delighted to remember that verse 3 reads, "Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young~ a place near your altar, Lord Almighty, my King and my God."
What drew my attention are the first three words of this third verse, "Even the sparrow...." because they match my favorite words of the prolific thinker and writer who I had called to mind.
Benjamin Franklin addressed the Constitutional Convention of 1787 by saying,
"I have lived, sir, a long time; and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, the God governs in the affairs of men! And IF A SPARROW cannot fall to the ground without his notice, it it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? ~We have been assured, sir, in the sacred writings that, 'except the Lord build the house they labor in vain that build it.' I firmly believe this; and I also believe, that without his concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests, our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and a by~word down to future ages.... I therefore beg leave to move, that henceforth prayers, imploring the assistance of heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this assembly every morning before we proceed to business; and that one or more of the clergy of this city be requested to officiate in that service."
This man who never chose for himself personally the faith of his father, still understood and passionately held to the need for men to call on God through prayer in every endeavor.
Benjamin Franklin and the sparrow, in life and in death.
If A Sparrow~Constitutional Convention~1787
Even The Sparrow~April 17,1790
