Hymn: Beyond The Sunset

The information about the author of this hymn, comes from a book written by Kenneth W. Osbeck. If you would like to purchase the book, simply click on the title: 101 More Hymn Stories: The Inspiring True Stories Behind 101 Favorite Hymns

Hymn Author: Virgil P. Brock, 1887-1978

Composer: Blanche Kerr Brock, 1888-1958

Mr. Brock writes,

“This song was born during a conversation at the dinner table, one evening in 1936, after watching a very unusual sunset at Winona Lake, Indiana, with a blind guest-my cousin Horace Burr-and his wife Grace. A large area of the water appeared ablaze with the glory of God, yet there were threatening storm clouds gathering overhead. Returning to our home, we went to the dinner table still talking about the impressive spectacle we had witnessed. Our blind guest excitedly remarked that he had never seen a more beautiful sunset.

“People are always amazed when you talk about seeing,” I told him. “ I can see,” Horace replied. “I see through other people's eyes, and I think I often see more; I see beyond the sunset.”

The phrase “beyond the sunset” and the striking inflection of his voice struck me so forcibly, I began singing the first few measures. “ That's beautiful!” his wife interrupted, “Please go to the piano and sing it.”

We went to the piano nearby and completed the first verse. “You should have a verse about the storm clouds,” our guest urged, and the words for this verse came quickly as well. Recalling how closely our guests had walked hand in hand together for so many years due to his blindness, the third verse was soon added. Before the evening meal was finished, all four stanzas had been written and we sang the entire song together.