It is easy to pay the fare to Tarshish,
to hand out silver and gold;
it is easy to take a ship to Tarshish
and go down into the hold,
and there to sleep in the ship of Tarshish,
as Jonah slept of old.
But they who follow God's directing
a different price must pay:
they must listen ever for His voice
and, hearing it, obey;
they must stand always on the watch
by night as well as day.
However fierce the storm may rage,
they must see only good;
if angry hands would cast them out,
know God's great fatherhood
that binds all men in love and trust
and mutual brotherhood.
But if those hands should cast them out,
God's care they still must know,
and He will send to bring them safe
to the place where they would go—
some mighty creature of the deep
from the hidden seas below.
Who sail the healthful seas of truth
shall safely journey far
with hearts at peace in wind and wave;
God's love and mercy are
forever near to meet their need
and bring them safe to shore.
