The Theme of Life

Recently in my British Literature classes we began to review the poetry of William Cowper. Perhaps some of you recognize the name. Others might not. Don't worry about it. I knew of him but I only knew of him from the hymns he'd write. Yes, that's right, he was a hymnologist. So when we began to review his poems I was caught off guard.

The poem we studied was titled THE CASTAWAY. It was a really powerful piece but there is one particular stanza I want to observe. The poem relates of a man ignored by all, a man who drowned as a castaway. Cowper reflects his own sentiments in those of the lonely, ignored, and deceased (unmourned) castaway. Here is the stanza, a stanza which spills from the poets own lips but is reminiscent of the castaways own tragedy...

I therefore purpose not, or dream,

Descanting on his fate

To give the melancholy theme

A more enduring date:

But misery still delights to trace

Its semblance in another's case

The reference to "another's case" is, of course, Cowpers own case. The poet intrigued me and so I began to search out some biographical sketches of his life. The simplest (yet powerful) sketch was in a CD of Hymns I have by the group Selah. I've copied the sketch here...

"Sometimes it seems as though we can never relate to the writers of the great hymns of our faith – that these authors are on an entirely different ‘spiritual wavelength’ than the rest of us. However, William Cowper, who wrote these strong and assuring words of God’s love and mercy, was never able to rest in that security in his own troubled life. He suffered a nervous breakdown, attempted suicide several times, and was even confined to an insane asylum for a time where he was straitjacketed for his own protection. Cowper was plagued throughout his lifetime with the feeling that God would someday turn His back on him, a feeling that we have all shared at one time or another. It is said that on his deathbed, however, William Cowper looked upward with amazement on his face and said, “I am not shut out of Heaven after all.” His words of assurance, based on Zechariah 13:1, have comforted and encouraged Christians the world over for two centuries, and will continue to give comfort to doubting Christians throughout the ages until we all have the great assurance and indescribable joy of seeing our Savior face to face."

Interestingly enough the theme of Cowpers life changed. In the poem (Castaway) his theme was that of melancholy. Yet in his hymn (There is a Fountain) his theme changed. Now his theme is redeeming love. Here is the stanza to that hymn...

E’er since, by faith, I saw the stream

Thy flowing wounds supply,

Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.

And shall be till I die, and shall be till I die;

Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.

Now my question is, which is your life's theme?