Out of Touch

Only a smile! yes

on­ly a smile

That a wo­man o’er­bur­dened with grief

Expected from you

’twould have giv’n her re­lief

For her heart ached sore the while;

But wea­ry and cheer­less she went away

Because as it hap­pened that ve­ry day

You were out of touch with your Lord.

Only a word! yes

on­ly a word

That the Spir­it’s small voice whis­pered speak;

The work­er passed on­ward

tired

un­blessed and weak

Whom you were meant to stir

To cour­age

de­vo­tion

and love anew

Because when the mes­sage came un­to you

You were out of touch with your Lord.

Only a note

yes

on­ly a note

To a friend in a far dis­tant land.

The Spir­it said Write

but you al­rea­dy had

Other work in view that day:

It mat­ters but lit­tle—you did not know

A soul would be saved from sin and woe

You were out of touch with your Lord.

Only a song! yes

on­ly a song

That the Spir­it said

Sing to­night;

Thy voice is thy Mas­ter’s by blood pur­chased right;

But you thought

Amid this throng

I care not to sing of the streets of gold

The heart you might have reached grew cold

You were out of touch with your Lord.

Only a day! yes

on­ly a day

But oh! can you guess

my friend

Where in­flu­ence reach­es

and where it will end

Of the hours you threw away?

The Mas­ter’s com­mand is Abide in Me

But fruit­less and vain will your serv­ice be

If you’re out of touch with your Lord.