O Gracious Father of Mankind

[Verse 1] O gracious Father of mankind, Our spirits' unseen friend; High heaven's Lord, our hearts' dear guest, To Thee our prayers ascend. [Verse 2] Thou dost not wait till human speech Thy gifts divine implore; Our dreams, our aims, our work, our lives Are prayers Thou lovest more. [Verse 3] Thou hearest these, the good and ill, Deep buried in each breast; The secret thought, the hidden plan, Wrought out our unexpressed. [Verse 4] O cleanse our prayers from human dross, Attune our lives to Thee, Until we labor for those gifts We ask on bended knee. [Verse 5] Our best is but Thyself in us, Our highest thought Thy will; To hear Thy voice we need but love, And listen, and be still. [Verse 6] We would not bend Thy will to ours, But blend our wills to Thine; Not dreams, our aims, our work, our lives Are prayers Thou lovest more. [Verse 7] 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. [Verse 8] 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.