On His Blindness

A sonnet by John Milton:

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,

Lodg'd with me, 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 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.

This is a paraphrasing of this rather difficult poem I wrote for an English test....
I think about how my time has been spent during half my time in this world, and that the one talent I posess is now out of reach due to my disability(1). I want to serve with God as well as I desire to, so that God doesn't reproach me. "Does God require labor even though I am blind?" I ask foolishly. Patience(2) replies, "God doesn't need anyone to do his work. However, the people that bear the burden the most amiably serve him the best. After all, he has thousands of angels willing to work for him, and they can come over land or ocean without stopping and also serve those who are indifferent." (1)John Milton went blind and from then on was forced to dictate his works, including Paradise Lost. (2)Milton personifies Patience and he delivers a response.