O Gracious Father of Mankind

O gra­cious Fa­ther of man­kind

Our spir­its’ un­seen friend

High Heav­en’s Lord

our hearts’ dear guest

To Thee our pray­ers as­cend.

Thou dost not wait till hu­man speech

Thy gifts di­vine im­plore;

Our dreams

our aims

our work

our lives

Are pray­ers Thou lov­est more.

Thou hear­est these

the good and ill

Deep bur­ied in each breast;

The secr­et thought

the hid­den plan

Wrought out or un­ex­pressed.

O cleanse our pray­ers from hu­man dross

Attune our lives to Thee

Until we la­bor for those gifts

We ask on bend­ed knee.

Our best is but Thy­self in us

Our high­est thoughts Thy will;

To hear Thy voice we need but love

To list­en

and be still.

We would not bend Thy will to ours

But blend our wills to Thine;

Not beat with cries on Heav­en’s doors

But live Thy life di­vine.

Thou seek­est us in love and truth

More than our minds seek Thee;

Through op­en gates Thy pow­er flows in

Like flood tides from the sea.

No more we seek Thee from afar

Nor ask Thee for a sign

Content to pray in life and love

And toil

till all are Thine.