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Thousands at his bidding speed/And post o’er land and ocean without rest/They also serve who only stand and wait.’
Milton’s iconic line tells us we are born for a particular purpose with a particular trajectory of life, and we lead our lives in fulfilment of this purpose.
There are those who are active participants in the act of living in pursuit of their ideals and ambitions, and there are others who do not participate in or perform tasks conventionally considered meaningful or valuable, nevertheless doing their duty with faith and honour.
We are reminded of Sisyphus in the Greek myth, condemned by the gods, repeatedly rolling up the hill a boulder that came down, manifesting what Paul Tillich, philosopher, called “The Courage to Be”. The work is inherently meaningless; the challenge faced by Sisyphus is to refrain from despair and disillusionment and find meaning and happiness in the struggle itself.
There are also those who cannot contribute in the earthly scheme of things owing to disability, illness or circumstantial constraints but simply bear His Cross with patient endurance, seeking release, waiting in readiness for His call. They are merely waiting for God’s plan to unfold, his timing and his direction to take their place in the Universal Order. Their efforts may not compare with the lives and deeds of people of greater stature, but their work and patience can be its own reward, its own justification for existence. Walt Whitman rightly observes, “I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey of stars.”
Psalm 27.14 of the Bible reads: Wait for the Lord/be strong to take heart/and wait for the Lord. It is not a passive command to do nothing but an active trust in God’s timing and strength even when circumstances are difficult and the firm belief that God is there behind the scenes.
People have not always been defined principally by their capacity. Not all lives are lined with exciting events; we can’t all be high achievers or rugged action heroes. In the invisible roll call of God, people are remembered not for greatness but for goodness. The Bhagavad Gita says, “Tasmadsakt statam karyam karma Samachar asakto harcharmkarm parampnoti (Without attachment, constantly perform your duty as it ought to be done.)