Western World, 2009

It's brilliant being an English major at college (or, as you English I think would say it, "taking an English course at uni"), because I'm forced to read some of the best things ever written. (Of course, that's not all I'm forced to read. But that's another story.)

This particular piece spoke to me. It's titled "London, 1802" and was written about that place in that year. But I think the message fits a broader people, place, and time. I think it fits London, 2009. And England, 2009. And Europe, 2009. And let's not forget America, 2009.

In 1802, the author was calling on the poet Milton to come back and save us through his majestic, powerful, and yet godly voice. So my only change for 2009 (and I would have recommended it in 1802, as well) is to remember that Milton with all his glorious voice was only that-- a voice. "...the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'" (Jn 1:23). Milton was not and is not a saviour; he was only a voice of peace that can point us to the Saviour. So let us, in 2009, across our selfish, broken world, call the Saviour to "return to us again"-- and then let us return to Him.

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London, 1802
- William Wordsworth

Milton! thou should'st be living at this hour:
England hath need of thee: she is a fen
Of stagnant waters: altar, sword, and pen,
Fireside, the heroic wealth of hall and bower,
Have forfeited their anceint English dower
Of inward happiness. We are selfish men;
Oh! raise us up, return to us again;
And give us manners, virture, freedom, power.
Thy soul was like a Star, and dwelt apart:
Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea:
Pure as the naked heavens, majestic, free,
So didst thou travel on life's common way,
In cheerful godliness; and yet thy heart
The lowliest duties on herself did lay.