An article written by my father, the Rev. C. Thomas Paige, as it appeared in the Tri-State Defender on the date shown.
God of Grace and God of Glory
On Thy people pour Thy power
Crown Thine ancient story
Bring her bud to glorious flower
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage
For the passing of this hour.
Lo, the hosts of evil round us
Scorn Thy Christ assail His ways
Fears and doubts too long have hound us
Free our hearts to work and praise
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage
For the living of these days.
Cure Thy children’s warring madness
Blind our pride to Thy control
Shame our wanton, selfish gladness
Rich in things and poor in soul
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage
Lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal.
Lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal
No doubt many of us recognize these words as the words of a commonly used hymn. An analysis of these words will reveal an outcry for the very things which men yearn today. The author of this hymn was in the midst of turmoil that haunts so many of us. We stand up, day by day, hour by hour, and year by year, and see many of the things we cherish never realized. Sometimes the clouds are all about us and we know not what steps to take next.
In all probability, this author and thousands who have chosen to sing it have been at the very crossroads that provoked such an utterance. When all human efforts have been exhausted, the prayer goes up: “Grant us wisdom, grant us power.” The author is too big in the first verse, the day is too big in the second verse, and the goal is too far removed in the third verse.
No doubt all of these never happened to one person at the same time, but over a period of time, all of us, sooner or later, will encounter them. It will be at this point that normal men cry out for something outside of themselves — to give the equilibrium for these days and times.
The world is filled with evil — the things having greatest significance to us have, in many instances, lost their values. All about us we see evidence of a decaying world closing in upon us. Things seem hopeless and in an hour like this, only wisdom and courage suffice. It is most revealing to students of history to note the recurrence of things year after year or decade after decade.
Many of us think that what is happening now is something new, but human nature being what it is, it is not surprising that things keep on coming back. We need not fool ourselves. The days like the days provoking the words of this hymn and the days like the ones in which we live demand that we put life on its highest level. We cannot fool ourselves. Only those people who are equipped with the best can ever be of value to their day and time. Our world today needs men who have matured themselves and are, therefore, in a position to help others.
Our hours, our days, and our goals today are important as never before. These things have taken on an imperative that is demanded as never before. It is equally true that as time goes on, each of us takes on an importance that we have never had before. With all of the opportunities we have today, each of us must so gird ourselves as individuals that when the opportunity comes, we will be in a position to render the greatest good for the cause of the kingdom.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 