OUR WORLD IS BUT A GIANT CITY

WITH CONCRETE CANYONS WIDE

IT CONTAINS ALLEYWAYS AND SHADOWS

WHERE DANGERS CAN OFTEN HIDE.

THE DENIZENS OF THIS MIGHTY CITY

COME IN EVERY RELIGION, CREED AND RACE

HIDDEN STORIES OF JOY AND OF DESPAIR

CAN BE READ IN EACH ONE’S FACE.

SOME HAVE LIVES OF EASE AND PLENTY

OTHER’S STRUGGLE ON THEIR WEARY WAY

BUT ALL OF THEM, BOTH RICH AND POOR

MUST REST AT THE END OF EACH DAY.

DESPITE THE DIFFERENCES IN STATION

ONE THING IN COMMON THEY BOTH HAVE

WHEN THEIR LIFE JOURNEY IS FINALLY RUN

THEIR DESTINATION IS THE GRAVE.

AND WHEN WE STAND BEFORE THE MASTER

UPON THAT MIGHTY JUDGEMENT DAY

AS WE LOOK UPON HIS LOVING FACE

AND WAIT TO HEAR WHAT HE WILL SAY,

ALL EARTHLY THINGS ARE CAST AWAY

NO WORTH WILL THEY POSSESS

WHEN WE STAND BEFORE OUR LORD ON HIGH

AND ALL OF OUR DEEDS CONFESS.

AND AS HE LOOKS UPON US

AND INTO OUR HEART AND SOUL AND MIND

SILENTLY WE WILL STAND THERE

AND WONDER WHAT HE WILL FIND,

WILL HE FIND ANY ACTS OF KINDNESS

OR ACTS THAT CAUSED DESPAIR

WHEN HE LOOKS INTO OUR BOOK OF LIFE

 WHAT WILL BE WRITTEN THERE?

ONCE WE HAVE PASSED THIS MORTAL PLAIN

OUR DEEDS CANNOT BE UNDONE

SO TAKE CARE TODAY, WHILE YOU STILL CAN,

OF WHAT YOU DO ‘TWIXT RISING AND SETTING SUN.

THE DEEDS YOU DO AND THE WORDS YOU SAY

WHETHER THEY CAUSE JOY OR STRIFE

ARE SECOND BY SECOND RECORDED

IN YOUR BOOK OF LIFE.

AS YOU DWELL ON THIS MORTAL PLAIN

KEEP ONE THING FIRM IN YOUR MIND

THE THINGS THAT YOU ACQUIRE HERE

WHEN YOU DIE WILL BE LEFT BEHIND.

BUT IF A FELLOWMAN’S IN TROUBLE

AND YOU REACH OUT A HELPING HAND

YOUR REWARD WILL BE AWAITING YOU

WHEN YOU REACH THAT HEAVENLY LAND.

BE AWARE OF THE WORDS YOU SAY

AS THROUGH THIS LIFE YOU GO

FOR THEY CAN CAUSE A MIGHTY RIVER

OF PAIN IN SOMEONE’S HEART TO FLOW.

WORDS CAN GIVE GREAT HOPE AND JOY

OR CAUSE A HEART WITH PAIN TO BEAT

AND WE WILL BE JUDGED FOR ALL OF THEM

WHEN WE STAND BEFORE THE JUDGEMENT SEAT.

DO NOT HOLD WORDS OF LOVE AND KINDNESS

IN YOUR HEART WHERE NONE CAN SEE

WHEN YOU CAN CAUSE SUCH GOOD WITHIN THIS WORLD

IF YOU WILL BUT SET THEM FREE.

I BID YOU BE NOT SO STINGY

WITH WORDS OF PRAISE AND HOPE

THOSE VERY WORDS COULD HELP A LOST, TROUBLED SOUL

LIFT THEM UP AND HELP THEM TO COPE.

AND THIS ONE SIMPLE THING I BID YOU REMEMBER

THAT FOR EACH AND EVERY ACT YOU DO

SOMEWHERE IN THE MIGHT CIRCLE OF LIFE

IT WILL COME BACK TO YOU.