Sandra Heska King

daring to open doors

31 Days of Coming to Grips with My Age ~ Day 23: When I Consider How My Life’s Been Spent

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A couple years ago, I participated in a Random Act of Poetry for The High Calling where we were asked to select a poem that had an impact on us–and then write a poem about it.

I chose this poem by Milton.

When I Consider How My Light is Spent

When I consider how my light is spent

Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide,

And that one talent which is death to hide,

Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent

To serve therewith my maker, and present

My true account, lest he returning chide.

“Doth God exact day-labor, light denied?”

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 mild yoke, they serve him base: 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.” ~John Milton (1673)

Milton gradually lost his vision between 1644 and 1652

 

And this is the poem I wrote.

When I Consider How My Life’s Been Spent

When I consider how my life’s been spent

Up to this point in trying hard to meet

The expectations man laid at my feet

And Martha work wore thin this fragile tent,

I long for years that I perceive long lost

While secret passion lay unclaimed, unused

And time that’s given all I fear abused

I didn’t take the time to count the cost.

Then focus clears and now I see anew

My days within His loving hands He holds

My Mary heart finds rest, my burden rolls

I am allowed to be before I do. ~Sandra Heska King (2010)

Comments

  1. Diana Trautwein says

    I cannot even begin to put into words how much I love this post. The pictures, the words from Milton – and your wonderful poem. Thank you, thank you. And thank you for your words of grace in the sometimes painful conversation over at ADS today.

  3. JoAnne Potter says

    Oh, Sandra…As I read this I wonder whether your time of being has at last given way to your time of doing that thing for which your heart has yearned…

  5. Nancy Franson says

    Okay, so I am decidedly not a poetry person, but this line from Milton just stopped me in my tracks:

    “God doth not need Either man’s work, or his own gifts, who best Bear his mild yoke, they serve him base:”

    He doesn’t need my work. He graciously invites me to participate in his work, using the gifts he gave me. And, as you said so beautifully, I am allowed to be before I do.

    • Sandra says

      I think my favorite line is the one that seems quoted the most, the last,”They also serve who only stand and wait.”

      We’re serving even when we’re still and waiting, waiting still.

      And of course, how He can use us in spite of and *because of* of flaws and perceived disabilities.

    • Sandra says

      Thank you, Martha. It’s taken me a long time to become comfortable with just being–and moving with His flow, not man’s. At least I’m learning…

  7. JOYCE says

    I am a poetry person. I LOVE Milton!!! YOUR response, Sandra, was beautiful!!!
    God gives us identity, and choices. Where we go from there is strictly up to us. Thank goodness there is forgiveness for sin!!!
    Sometimes that is the only way we learn from birth ’til death……

    • Sandra says

      These are the houses from the family centennial farm. The current owners have done nothing to save them. They are beautiful in their dying, but it breaks my heart.

  10. Diane Stortz says

    Sandra, I’m not sure how I connected with your site a few weeks ago, but I’m so glad I did! I’ve been enjoying this series, and this post especially!

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