Brighten The Corner Where You Are

Before we get to this week’s hymn, I wanted to share the story behind it. In the late 1800’s, a Sunday school training camp was formed near Lake Chautauqua in New York. It became a popular Christian meeting place, and had well known speakers of the day like William Jennings Bryan (namesake of the local Bryan College in Dayton, TN). Theodore Roosevelt even referred to the Chautauqua Circuit as “the most American thing in America.” The author of this hymn, Ina Duley Ogdon, was honored when she was invited to speak at this special meeting in 1912. She was excited to be able to share Christ with thousands because she had long felt a calling on her life. However, as she was packing for her trip to New York, her father was seriously injured in a carriage accident. Although deeply distressed, she cancelled her trip to stay home and take care of her father. Even though she was justifiably disappointed, she purposed to be a blessing wherever she was. If that meant ministering to thousands, so be it. If it meant staying home to take care of her father, she was content with that too. Out of this experience, she wrote the following poem that was eventually put to music. Her words of admonition come from a disappointed heart that was eventually able to find peace and contentment in the “corner” where God had placed her.

Do not wait until some deed of greatness you may do,
Do not wait to shed your light afar,
To the many duties ever near you now be true,
Brighten the corner where you are.

Chorus
Brighten the corner where you are!
Brighten the corner where you are!
Someone far from harbor you may guide across the bar;
Brighten the corner where you are!

Just above are clouded skies that you may help to clear,
Let not narrow self your way debar;
Though into one heart alone may fall your song of cheer,
Brighten the corner where you are.

Here for all your talent you may surely find a need,
Here reflect the bright and Morning Star;
Even from your humble hand the Bread of Life may feed,
Brighten the corner where you are.

Couple of comments on the lyrics:

• Until some deed of greatness – How often do we look for the opportunities to do something great for God. I think we all desire to do something that will impact the kingdom in a big way. But I wonder how often we miss the deeds of “smallness” that God can use to encourage someone, to draw someone close to Him, or to do something that allows God to get the glory. Whether it is a kind word, a note of thanks, a hug around the neck, or an “I’m praying for you”, God can take these small acts of kindness, or deeds of “smallness,” and do great things with them.
• Let not narrow self – I like the word “narrow” used in conjunction with “self” in this line. How often do we have a narrow vision of God’s plan or God’s purposes. I think about the disciples when they found a boy with two fishes and five loaves of bread. Their narrow vision had limits on what Jesus could do with that small sacrifice. Or how about Moses when he tells God he has a speech problem. Surely God, the creator of the heavens and earth, can work around a minor physical disability. Our “narrow” self and our “tunnel vision” has limits, while God can take the little things, the broken things, and the foolish things and do great things with them. I pray that we all can take off those “narrow glasses” and allow the Lord to expand our vision and use us to impact the world.

One Saturday morning when my son Tyler was three or four years old, he got in trouble. I don’t remember the circumstances or whether it was me or my wife that had gotten on to him. Ashamed, and probably mad too, he walked over to the corner in our kitchen, stuck his nose in it, stood there and pouted. He stood there long enough that we even got a picture of him. As a kid, going to the “corner” was one of those awful punishments. You never knew how long you were going to be there. Everybody else was free to roam, but you couldn’t come out of the corner. Going to the corner was no fun at all. As an adult, I now know why it was such a good punishment. Spending some time in the “corner” helps children to calm down, helps them to appreciate their freedom, and typically will change their attitude.

This hymn made me wonder. Does God “send us to our corner” sometimes? Not necessarily as a punishment, but to help us focus on what is important. To help us calm down during the “busy”ness of life. To help us appreciate the freedom we have in our homes, our families, and in our country. The author of this hymn gives us a great admonition. To brighten the corner where we are. Maybe we are “in the corner” for a season. Maybe we are “in the corner” for a purpose. Or maybe we are just there to brighten that corner. The great thing about God, though, is He is in our corner. He is on our side. He is our defender, our encourager and the lifter of our head. I hope that if you are “in the corner” today that you will choose to brighten it. Brighten it with a smile. Brighten it with love and grace, and know that God has a purpose for you, and He is with you in the corner.