Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life

1.Where cross the crowded ways of life,
  where sound the cries of race and clan,
  above the noise of selfish strife,
  we hear your voice, O Son of man.  

2.From tender childhood’s helplessness,
  from woman’s grief, man’s burdened toil,
  from famished souls, from sorrow’s stress,
  your heart has never known recoil. 

3.O Master, from the mountainside
  make haste to heal these hearts of pain;
  among these restless throngs abide;
  O tread the city’s streets again.

 4.Till all the world shall learn your love
  and follow where your feet have trod,
  till, glorious from your heaven above,
  shall come the city of our God!

by Frank North

•  Listen the choice of words that describe the culture: crowded, strife, grief, burden, stress, pain, throngs. These words arouse feelings of discomfort. What image does the hymnwriter invoke as an antidote?
• Have you ever seen a person or group on the street and felt drawn to them, although you just keep going? What voice might you have missed? How would you know if you were hearing the voice of the Son of Man or just a voice in your head?
• Think of people who might be described by the words in verse 2. What does the last line tell you about Jesus’ concerns?
• In verse 3, how will the Master be able to tread the city streets to bring healing?
• What is the hymnwriter looking forward to as the consummation of the Master’s work? What does the hymnwriter think will happen first? What do you think will happen first? Do you know where to get the real answer?