The Task by William Cowper

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Recommended: Reflections of understanding the self

The twenty-first century fascinates us with spellbinding charms as science and technology mesmerize the world with new gadgets that promise to make life easier. We have instant access to anything we want; but the hustle and bustle of today's mentality diminish the true beauty of everyday experiences by shifting our focus from purpose to mere existence. Although we retain a semblance of deeper meaning through so-called arts and humanities, my generation is drifting toward the abyss of ignorance through an arbitrary and reckless decision to “take the path of least resistance.” This is especially true in the realm of literature, where the pleasures of entertainment mitigate the labor of critical thinking – a relief willingly embraced by the soul and imagination, but a tradeoff ending in catastrophe: a future of hopeless futility; a hollow life without purpose! We are becoming a generation of mindless clones who do not know true virtue. The Epicurean philosophy “eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die” permeates our culture while eternal wisdom collects dust on forgotten bookshelves.

Jesus compared truth to seeds in the parable of the sower (Mk. 4.3-20). The seeds which fall by the wayside never germinate and are devoured by predators. The seeds in stony ground sprout, but do not take root and wither away. And the seeds in the weedy patches grow into plants, but “the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the [truth], and it becometh unfruitful (v.19 KJV). Among the fallen seeds, the work of eighteenth century poet, William Cowper (1731-1800) lies dormant. What is the condition of the soil in the gardens of today's minds? Have years of over-cultivatio...

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...arch 16, 2012.

Newey, Vincent. “William Cowper.” Eighteenth-Century British Poets: Second Series. Ed. John E. Sitter. Detroit: Gail Research, 1991. Dictionary of Literary Biography Vol. 109. Literature Resource Center. Web. March 25, 2012.

Packer, Barbra. “Hope And Dispair In The Writings Of William Cowper.” Social Research 66.2 (1999): 545-564. Academic Search Complete. Web. 16 Mar. 2012.

Piper, John. The Hidden Smile of God. Wheaton: Crossway. 2008. Print.

Quinlan, Maurice J. William Cowper: A Critical Life. Minneapolis: The University of Minneapolis Press. 1953. Print.

Risk, Louise B. A Portrait of William Cowper. Glen Echo, Md: Brent Branch Publishers. 2004. Print.

Tomlin, Graham. "Christians And Epicureans In 1 Corinthians." Journal For The Study Of The New Testament 20.68 (1998): 51-71. Religion and Philosophy Collection. Web. April 28, 2012.

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