Schweitzer ... he looked beyond the horizon
LEARN AND LIVE ITEM FOR JANUARY 16 ... LOOK
BEYOND THE HORIZON TO HELP ... IF you are still in school, just note some of
the things discussed in this article. It will prepare you for a career that you
will enjoy doing.
So why does anyone want a job? To earn some
money that will help the family. Others choose careers because it will fit in
with their lifestyle.
Some do not have any choice and take what is
offered. And there are others who seek something that gives them some
satisfaction – as in serving others.
Listen to many around you talk and you will
find that their goals in life do not go beyond where the eyes can see.
I urge you to look beyond.
If you take the time to look, you will see
that there are millions who live more desperate lives than those outside of
your home who say they are struggling.
Let me tell you about a man who was in a
position to make decisions regarding his future career.
Albert Schweitzer (1875-1964) was born in
Germany. He was the son of a Lutheran pastor and growing up in a clergy’s home,
he was advantaged in his church’s teachings. Later he studied the subject as a
young man. He played the organ very well, having learned it from some of the
best teachers in the land.
He was particularly fond of music by the
great Johann Sebastian Bach, a fellow countryman.
Before Schweitzer was 30, he was already a
doctor in theology and music. He served in a number of different churches and
was an author of books.
One day, as he was out walking in the park in
a town called Colmar, he came across a statue of an African man.
His thoughts then were to go to Africa and
help the people there as a medical missionary.
He realised that there were people who were
“dying for the mere need of choloroquine and penicillin”.
So at the age of 30, he entered medical
school to study to become a doctor so that he could go to Africa and help the
people there.
People told him to remain in Germany where
many prestigious churches could have him as pastor. But he saw beyond the
horizon. He knew there were millions out there who needed medicine.
In 1952, Schweitzer received the Nobel Peace
Prize for his beliefs and work.
The world recognised his efforts because he
saw beyond the horizon.
(- Picture from
www.earlychristianwritings.com)
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