Everyman’s Hut

Camp News (Northern Command), Volume 1, Issue 28, 8 November 1940, Page 8

Everyman’s Hut

“It isn’t the thing you do, dear,. It’s the thing you leave undone, Which gives the bitter heartache At the setting of the sun; The tender word unspoken, The letter you did not write, - The flower you might have sept dear, Are your haunting ghosts at night. The stone you might have lifted Out of your brother’s way, You were hurried too much to say; The bit of heartsome counsel -. The loving touch'of the hand, dear, The gentle and winsome tone, That you had no time or thought for, With troubles enough of your own. These little acts of kindness So easily out of mind, These chances to be angels, Which even mortals find— They come in night and silence, Each chill reproachful wraith, When hope is faint and flagging, And a blight has dropped on faith. For life is all too short dear, . And sorrow is all too great, To suffer our slow compassion, • That tarries until too late. And it’s not the thing you do, dear, It’s the thing you leave undone, Which gives you the bitter heartache At the setting of the sun.” . ■ ‘ In the heart of everyone of us there is the desire to do something noble, some deed that will show to those around us that we are willing to make sacrifices for our fellowmen. And we wait and wait for the opportunity to come, our eyes fixed on distant heights so that we do not see the opportunities for “little deeds. of kindness” that lie around our feet a word of cheer and comfort here, a smile of encouragement there, a touch of •„ sympathy that lifts the clouds from weary hearts so that the warm sun shines again. As we see the great need around us may we, like Paul, be constrained by the love of Christ, to do something for Him. “If a smile we may renew, > As our journey we pursue, Oh! the good we are may do, As the days are going by.” Once more farewells have been spoken and the boys have set out on the great adventure fortified, we trust, by the word of God as received in the Active Service Testaments and with Mr. Taylor’s nightly message in their hearts. God bless them and keep them in our prayers.