‘God doth not need
Either man’s work or his own gifts. Who best
Bear His mild yoke, they serve Him best. His state
Is kingly: thousands at His bidding speed,
And post o’er land and ocean without rest;
They also serve who only stand and wait.’
We moderns understand ourselves as acting subjects. What do you do?
The damaging consequences of this view of the acting self are numerous: from an instrumentality in human relationships, to a removal of the dignity of those who cannot act, who are limited in their ability to act (the disabled and the elderly in particular). Even Aristotle’s more moderate vision of a subject who is both responsive and active falls under this critique; for Aristotle cannot envisage a truly good human life without the expression of virtues through action.
But Milton, going blind, sees an alternative in Christian patience; and has 'Patience' say these words above to him.
Serving God is not restricted to the busy.
4 comments:
Yes, and this is common in churches - we can tend to base our 'church life' on activities; if you're not 'involved', your faith or motives are questionable.
Of course, this doesn't excuse laziness or lack of commitment, but it does, I suspect, produce a cult of the capable, and an inability to properly deal with sickness and disability, both physical and mental, which is a sad case for a religion that calls out to the fatherless and the weak and the oppressed.
Though wasn't Milton the one who virtually imprisoned his daughter as his personal slave/servant while he went blind? Or something...
Here's one article on his problematic relationship to women. He never bothered to educate his daughters, despite his outspoken comments on the importance of education. Once blind, he forced them to read to him in languages they didn't understand, and two of his three daughters (by his first of three marriages) ended up very bitter towards him and hoped for his death.
Just a thought...
What are you - some kind of feminist? ;-)
David, but don't God's actions also re-establish/reconcile relations?
MPJ: some kind...
Hard not to be really.
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