preview

What is Service? Why Serve? Essay

Better Essays

What is Service? Why Serve?

There is an old story about an ancient Greek philosopher named Thales. According to this tale, Thales was looking to the stars as he walked about Athens, attempting to answer certain troubling philosophical questions. He became so engaged in thought that he didn't even notice the well he was approaching. Needless to say, Thales, one of the most brilliant of ancient Greek philosophers, fell into that well and became the butt of many Athenian jokes. His head was so lost in the clouds, some said, that he didn't even notice the world around him.

In our current tumultuous era of fast food drive-thru's and 24-hour convenience stores, we can no longer afford the luxuries Thales had. We can no longer ignore …show more content…

But what do we mean when we speak of service? Is it mere self-abnegation? Perhaps an example might aid our answering of this question:

In my most recent work, I have been teaching the Chinese game of "go" (Igo) to four classes at a local elementary school. The game dates back 4,000 years, making it the oldest board game in existence. Its basic rules are as simple as tic-tac-toe, its possibilities endless and complex. Through a multicultural program, the game of "go" has facilitated communication between elementary students in Virginia and six-year-olds in Northern Japan (where the game took root and developed). Questions are asked, stories are told and games are played. Even aside from the immense benefit of early exposure to other cultures, the game of "go" teaches a lesson in and of itself - a lesson we would all do well to learn. The ideas behind the game, while often interpreted as Buddhist in nature, demonstrate a profound sense of fairness and community. In brief, the game is played in such a way that an individual wins and loses and equal amount of times. The Western emphasis on competition is thwarted with a necessary element of cooperation: Egos cease to

Get Access