Today is John Milton's birthday. 400th, to be exact. Down at the lower right I keep a copy of his poem "On His Blindness," the source of the title of my blog "They Also Serve."
In honor of this 400th birthday though I'm reprinting it here.
The way I read it, Milton would like to serve God better but feels prevented by his blindness from doing so as vigorously as sighted people might. He realizes that God does not perhaps see this as preventing service.
To better understand it, think of the word "light" as meaning "sight."
On His Blindness
WHEN I consider how my light is spent
E're half my days, in this dark world and wide,
And that one Talent which is death to hide,
Lodg'd with me useless, though my Soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
My true account, least he returning chide,
Doth God exact day-labour, light deny'd,
I fondly ask; But patience to prevent
That murmur, soon replies, God doth not need
Either man's work or his own gifts, who best
Bear his milde yoak, they serve him best, his State
Is Kingly. Thousands at his bidding speed
And post o're Land and Ocean without rest:
They also serve who only stand and waite.
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