My Life and Thought by Albert Schweitzer

Recognizing that he was born to privilege, at 21 years of age, Schwitzer made the decision to dedicate his life to the service of others when he turned 30. He was a musicologist as well as performer and published a biography of Johan Sebastian Bach in French in 1905, a book on organ building and playing in 1906, and rewrote the Bach book in German in 1908. These funds would later be used to establish the jungle hospital he founded in Lambaréné, now present day Gabon. Interestingly, Schweitzer was also an accomplished organist and earned money by performing throughout Europe for much of his early life. By the age of 29, he was recognized as a renowned scholar in both disciplines, earning theological acclaim for his book, The Quest of the Historical Jesus. Schweitzer received a doctorate in philosophy in 1899 and a licentiate in theology from the University of Strasbourg in 1900. He was the son of a minister, born into a family that highly valued the pursuit of scholarly activities and religious study. The Alsatian Lorraine theologian, physician, philosopher, and Nobel Prize winner Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) exemplified a life committed to serving others. Schweitzer’s lesson continues to resonate: There is no greater motto that one could follow than to live a life of service.

The third healer in this series, Albert Schweitzer, committed his life to service and as such, taught the art of medicine by example as he served the poor at his jungle hospital in Gabon. He urged physicians to use all of their senses when evaluating patients and to show equanimity and imperturbability when practicing medicine. Sir William Osler (Consultant, September and October 2013) took the art and teaching of medicine to a new level. Florence Nightingale (Consultant, December 2012) is a name that is recognized around the world, even today, as someone who dedicated her life to caring for her patients.

The art of caring had many proponents in the 20th century and we’ve already looked at some of these luminaries. “I do not know your destiny, but I do know one thing: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve.”

My Life and Thought by Albert Schweitzer