Posts Tagged: "Submission"

“George Herbert: Submission”

On June 21, 2019 by Dteb With 0 Comments - down to earth believer

My wife and I went to a lecture on the poet George Herbert last night.  One of the Herbert poems with which Daniel Strait dealt was a poem titled “Submission.”

“But that thou are my wisdom, Lord,

            And both mine eyes are thine,

My mind would be extremely stirr’d

            For missing my design.

Were it not better to bestow

            Some place and power on me?

Then should thy praises with me grow,

            And share in my degree.

But when I thus dispute and grieve,

            I do resume my sight,

And pilfring what I once did give,

Disseize thee of thy right.

How know I, if thou shouldst me raise,

            That I should then raise thee?

Perhaps great places and the praise

            Do not so well agree.

Wherefore unto my gift I stand;

            I will no more advise:

Only do thou lend me a hand,

            Since thou hast both mine eyes.”

Submission is never easy.  My little dog struggles with it.  Her master, even more.

Apparently, it wasn’t easy for George Herbert either.  He was a brilliant man, who had held the office of orator at Cambridge University.  He appeared to be on track to become a courtier in the royal court.

Then, whether voluntarily or not, Herbert ended up serving as vicar in a small country parish.  And while Herbert had given up his desire for power, he was tempted to take back his desire.  Couldn’t he glorify God more by being in a position of power?

No, Herbert concludes, not necessarily. “Perhaps great places and thy praise Do not so well agree.”

Herbert is tentative.  He says “perhaps.”  Sometimes, when we really, really want something, we are likely to be more open to “perhaps-es” than we are to categorical statements.

But the bottom line is this: Herbert knows that he kind of wants to be in a position of greater power and influence.  But he also knows that this could be problematic.

And he knows one more thing as well: Herbert knows that he needs God to lend him a hand. And most of us could also stand a helping hand from the Almighty when power and influence beckon.    

, , , ,
Follow on Feedly