Mid-life
career switch…that’s what was on the mind of Judson Wheeler Van DeVenter, and
had been for some time as he thought through the possibilities. He eventually
decided to say “I Surrender All” (alternately known as “All to Jesus I
Surrender”) in 1896. Did he in effect raise the white flag, as the British did
at Yorktown in 1781 (see picture), feeling the ignominy of defeat? Judson was
in fact recognizing a greater power that he could not overcome, but he didn’t
sound like a guy with a crushed spirit. Instead, he embraced this change
without regret. He’d become aware through hints in his life, through
experiential suggestions, that this transformation would tap into something
that he did not even know was there before. Surrendering had turned out to be
the deal of a lifetime!
Judson
Van DeVenter had prepared during the first half of his life to be an artist,
but then decided to let the Creator steer him into another talent for the
second half of his life. He realized as a child that the Lord had blessed him
artistically and musically, so upon his graduation from a Michigan college he
accepted the path as an art teacher and later art supervisor in a Pennsylvania
high school. As a 30-year old he went throughout Europe studying and honing his
art skills. He kept his singing voice in tune also, through some formal study
and participation in the church choir where he worshipped. Consequently, his involvement
in that church’s evangelistic campaigns stirred his spirit, and many friends
coaxed him to consider full-time ministry – to leave his first love, art. It
wasn’t an easy or quick decision, but one that he mulled over for five years. He
probably wondered, ‘Can’t I do both?’, but eventually discovered that his
conscience was posing the issue as one of submission to a higher will. He had
to listen, and decided to let Providence take control. Looking back some five
years later, he wrote about this surrender decision, noting that he did it
‘freely’ (v.1), and yes ‘humbly’ (v.2), but asking to be filled too (v.4). His surrender would eventually take him on
trips all across the United States, and across the ocean to Scotland and
England too, but it was during a campaign in Ohio where he reminisced and
composed this ode about his mid-life change. Perhaps “I Surrender All” was also
with the encouragement of George Sebring where he stayed during this stopover. By
the end of his life, he’d crafted nearly three-score hymns and become a
professor of hymnology in Florida. Perhaps God’s answer did in fact let him use
the art sense he’d possessed since his childhood, but in a more focused way as
a hymnist. Judson says it was the ‘pivot’ point in his life, learning that He
had cultivated a talent deep inside for His own purposes.
What if
Judson Van DeVenter had stayed on his original course as a teacher-artist? Nothing
in his background says he would have stopped singing in the choir, or ended his
volunteer role in the church’s evangelism efforts. Honestly, it seems as though
Judson’s life was pretty well-lived in these roles –teacher, choir singer, church
volunteer. Moreover, his call to change wasn’t exactly an epiphany, or he might
have immediately amended his calling toward ministry. Instead, it was gradual,
like the dawn of morning. No one, including the one to whom he finally
surrendered, forced him, perhaps because he was already doing good works.
Judson was just willing to see if greater works were on the other side
of the white flag. Are you good? How about being great!
See more
information on the song story in these sources: The Complete Book of
Hymns – Inspiring Stories About 600 Hymns and Praise Songs by William J.
Petersen and Ardythe Petersen, Tyndale House Publishers, 2006; Amazing
Grace: 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions by Kenneth W. Osbeck,
Kregel Publications, 1990; 101 More Hymn Stories, by Kenneth W. Osbeck,
Kregel Publications, 1985; and Then Sings My Soul – 150 of the World’s
Greatest Hymn Stories, Robert J. Morgan, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2003.
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