O for a closer walk with man!
Sweet fellowship of soul,
Where each is to the other bound,
Parts of one living whole.
Our Father, God, help us to see
That all in thee are one;
O warm our hearts with thy pure love,
Strong as your glorious sun.
Pride, envy, selfishness will melt
Beneath that kindling fire;
Our brother's faults we scarce shall see,
But good in all admire.
No bitter cry of misery
Shall ever pass unheard;
But gentle sympathy spring forth
In smile and strengthening word.
And when our brother's voice shall call
From lands beyond the sea,
Our hearts in glad response will say,
"Here, Lord, am I, send me."
O Jesus Christ, thou who wast man,
Grant us thy face to see;
In thy light shall we understand
What human life may be.
Then daily with thy Spirit filled,
According to thy word,
New power shall flow through us to all,
And draw men near our Lord.
Thus will the deep desire be met
With which our prayer began;
A closer walk with Thee will mean
A closer walk with man.
If any little word of mine may make a life the brighter,
If any little song of mine may make a heart the lighter,
God help me speak the little word, and take my bit of singing,
And drop it in some lonely vale to set the echoes ringing.
If any little love of mine may make a life the sweeter,
If any little care of mine make other life completer,
If any lift of mine may ease the burden of another,
God give me love and care and strength to help my toiling brother.