Go to Your Corner

Some have been wondering about my blog site name and the little quote on the home page. So…here are my thoughts about corners and why this theme is the focus I’ve selected for my website!

We refer to, or experience corners, in a variety of aspects of our life. I am not necessarily a boxing fan, but I do remember as I was growing up a few times sitting with my Grandpa or Dad and watching this intense sport. I don’t know a lot about the rules or strategy, but do remember the contestants being told to “go to their corner.” In the corner they would receive council, water, medical attention and care from their corner man and coach. There is a stool there for them to have a moment of rest and a spit bucket. So with the little that I have watched and the even less that I know… I recognize that the corner is essential to their success as a boxer. It is a safe haven of care and restoration.

When my son Aaron was involved in Tae Kwon Do, we went to a few “non-contact” tournaments. At his age and level, much of the sport involved practicing the motions and moves and then learning how to control not only your body and your punches, but your emotions. I remember one time he was competing and accidentally let too much power loose on one of his punches. It impacted his opponent pretty hard. The referee immediately stopped the match, made my son get on his knees and turn his back to his competitor and sit quietly and wait. It was a physical position of respect and honor and was designed to give his opponent an opportunity to go to his corner and take a moment to gather himself and get care and restoration. Once the cornerman/coach indicated, both competitors resumed their stance in the middle of the mat, shook hands and bowed out of respect and continued the match. Again, I think about this and recognize that the “corner” is essential to the success and outcome of the match.

So, what happens in the corner? Why do we need to go there? I have determined four things that might happen for us in the corner. Sometimes our lives need all four and sometimes we just need one or two of these actions.

1. Reflection: For me, having a safe place of refuge is essential in my busy, busy life. It gives me an opportunity to take a deep breath and gather my thoughts. My corner can be next to the fire in my living room, or it could include a day of sewing or writing in my corner craft room. It might involve interacting with my family, or it could be that I need to just have some Connie time – alone. Think, reflect, take a breath…and move on.

2. Repentance? Sometimes in our corner God impresses upon us through our reflection, that somewhere in our busy life we may have forgotten about loving one another. In that case, our corner needs to become a place of repentance as well. We have to re-learn how to say “I’m sorry.” Whether it’s to our spouse, our kids, our friends or our co-workers. Recognizing that something we said or did may have been hurtful to others and then owning up to it and asking for forgiveness is almost a lost art in today’s basically selfish society. Too often we are involved in hurtful situations and then pride steps in, ultimately destroying a friendship or relationship. Two little words followed by a hug goes a long way towards the next step.

3. Restoration: It is no coincidence that the pre-fix of restoration is the word rest. If you go to the dictionary every descriptive word related to rest is what needs to happen in our corner. Cease work, peace, ease, refreshment, quiet relaxation, emotional tranquility, absence of motion and a short pause. Wow! I don’t know about you, but I need restoration every day. It brings to mind one of my favorite scriptures.

Matthew 11: 28 – 29 (NIV), says
“28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Restoration can be physical, emotional or spiritual, but it can’t happen without first engaging in reflection and repentance. Get comfortable; get centered in to your true spirit and shut out the demands and stresses of the world. Go to your corner and be restored!

4. Refocus: Unfortunately we can’t live in our corner. Just like when we go on a great vacation, eventually we have to face reality, come home and get back to life. But before you leave your corner, take a moment to recapture the journey; reflect, repent, restore and then refocus. Maybe you have areas of your life that are way out of balance…like one square wheel upon your car of life that causes the three other round tires to bump along out of balance. Part of refocusing is to identify areas that might need realigned or eliminated. Are you in your corner often dealing with the same issue over and over? We are only here in this earth for a short journey…too short to spend it trapped in jobs we hate or relationships that are damaging. Jot these thoughts and feelings down in a journal, then come back to them again later and re-evaluate. Do they still seem to be pulling you down, or was it just a moment of over-emotional defense? Sometimes refocusing involves just taking a moment to shake it off and keep going, but sometimes it means making some life changes and tough choices. I would encourage you to take some time to meet with someone that might help you evaluate this and help you as you move forward if your reflection and refocus need a stronger action.

That brings me back to the quote on my home page. Some of you may recognize it as the opening line from a song in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (the live version not the animated Disney version). I remember this song vividly from my childhood and I have always been enchanted by the concept of our own little corner and a special little chair…where we can be whatever we want to be. When my family asked me if I had any specific thoughts for the website when we started working on it, I knew immediately  that this quote and an image of a chair would have to be included. I now have my little corner and my own little chair…and when I go there, I can be anything I want to be. That includes the joy I get from writing and sharing with each and every one of you. I am so glad you joined me there today. I would encourage you to find a corner in your life and become all that God has destined for you to be.

1965 Version of Cinderella with Leslie Ann Warren / In My Own Little Corner