Called Aside

CALLED ASIDE.

" I have somewhat to say unto thee."

Called aside‚

From the glad working of thy busy life.

From the world's ceaseless stir of care and strife,

Into the stillness by thy Heavenly guide,

For a brief space thou hast been called aside.

Lonely hours

Thou hast spent, weary on a couch of pain,

Watching the golden sunshine and the rain;

Hours, whose sad length only to Him was known,

Who trod a sadder pathway, dark and lone.

Laid aside:

May not the little cup of suffering be

A loving one of blessing given to thee?

The cross of chastening sent thee from above

By Him who bore the cross, whose name is Love.

Called aside:

Hast thou no memories of that "little while"?

No sweet remembrance of thy Father's smile?

No hidden thoughts that wrapped thee in their hold

Of Him who did such light and grace unfold?

Called aside-

Perhaps into the desert garden dim,

And yet not lone, if thou hast been with Him,

And heard his voice in sweetest accents say,

Child, wilt thou not with me this hour stay?"

Called aside,

In hidden paths with Christ thy Lord to tread,

Deeper to drink at the sweet Fountain Head;

Closer in fellowship with Him to roam.

Nearer perchance to feel thy heavenly home.

Called aside.

Ob, knowledge deeper grows with Him alone,

In secret of his deeper love is shown,

And learned in many an hour of dark distress

Some rare, sweet lesson of his tenderness.

Called aside.

We thank Thee for the stillness and the shade,

And for the hidden paths thy love hath made,

And, so that we have wept and watched with Thee,

We thank Thee for our dark Gethsamene.

Called aside:

O restful thought - He doeth all things well‚

O blessed sense, with Christ alone to dwell:

So, in the shadow of thy cross to hide,

We thank Thee, Lord, to have been called aside.