Your Mission

If you can­not

on the ocean

Sail among the swift­est fleet

Rocking on the high­est bil­lows

Laughing at the storms you meet

You can stand among the sail­ors

Anchored yet with­in the bay

You can lend a hand to help them

As they launch their boats away.

If you are too weak to jour­ney

Up the mount­ain steep and high

You can stand with­in the val­ley

While the mul­ti­tudes go by;

You can chant in hap­py mea­sure

As they slow­ly pass along;

Though they may for­get the sing­er

They will not for­get the song.

If you have not gold and sil­ver

Ever rea­dy to com­mand;

If you can­not to­ward the needy

Reach an ev­er op­en hand;

You can vis­it the af­flict­ed

O’er the err­ing you can weep;

You can be a true dis­ci­ple

Sitting at the Sav­ior’s feet.

If you can­not

in the con­flict

Prove your­self a soldier true

If

where fire and smoke are thick­est

There’s no work for you to do;

When the batt­le­field is si­lent

You can go with care­ful tread

You can bear away the wound­ed

You can cov­er up the dead.

If you can­not

in the har­vest

Gather up the riche­st sheaves

Many a grain both ripe and gold­en

Oft the care­less reap­er leaves;

Go and glean among the bri­ars

Growing rank against the wall

For it may be that their sha­dow

Hides the hea­vi­est wheat of all.

Do not

then

stand id­ly wait­ing

For some great­er work to do;

Fortune is a lazy god­dess

She will nev­er come to you.

Go and toil in any vine­yard

Do not fear to do or dare

If you want a field of la­bor

You can find it any­where.