“They also serve who only stand and wait.” ~ John Milton
Poor John Milton is not much appreciated in this modern day. His theology is rigid, his language obtuse and his poetry, well, suffice to say much of it is a hard sell. I admire his genius and wish I had a tenth of it, but often we’re on different sides of the debate.
But he’s a wise man, even if I don’t agree with him, and this line, from his “Sonnet 19: On His Blindness” is full of insight and comfort.
Milton is discoursing on man’s obedience to God, so there’s a definite religious message that he’s giving, but I think that like all great art, the poem transcends in meaning.
Many of us feel like we’re in a suspended state–we’re not where we are supposed to be yet; we’re waiting. And we feel like we’re “wasting” our time. This line reminds us that we’re not.
We may be in a state of stasis, but we’re also serving. For Milton, we were serving God, but for others it might be the gods or the Universe or “the big picture”.
And it’s good to remember that big picture. We’re in the middle of it. We can’t see it from this vantage point. And just because we think we’re just “standing and waiting,” we can remember that sometimes standing and waiting is where we’re supposed to be. And by doing it, we’re serving whatever it is we believe we’re serving–God, humanity, ourselves.
Another reminder, perhaps, to live in the now.
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It’s a very deep quote. I, too think it’s suggesting that there is a place and time for everything, including waiting. Waiting, too can serve a higher purpose.