All I ever wanted was everything

What is the one thing you ever wanted in your life?

Do you ever take the time to ask yourself this question or, better still, take the time to seriously think about it?

Marion Preminger wrote about where lasting happiness is to be found in her autobiography All I Want Is Everything. Born in Hungary in 1913, Marion was raised in a castle, surrounded by wealth, servants and the notoriety of an aristocratic upbringing.

At a Viennese ball, she met a handsome young man, the son of an Italian doctor. They rushed into a marriage that lasted only a year. She returned to Vienna to embark on a career of acting. There she fell in love with the German director Otto Preminger. They married, and she followed him to America where he began a promising career as a Hollywood movie director. But her new Hollywood lifestyle could not sustain her marriage, and Preminger eventually divorced her.

Marion returned to Europe to live the life of a Parisian socialite until 1948. Then everything changed when she read that Dr. Albert Schweitzer was visiting Europe from his home in Africa. She determined to meet with the notable missionary doctor.

She first encountered Schweitzer doing one of the things he loved to do best while visiting Europe — playing a church organ for his own enjoyment. He invited her to dine with him. After the meal, Marion knew she had finally found what she’d been looking for. She accompanied Schweitzer every day during the remainder of his European visit. He invited Marion to come back to Africa with him and work as an untrained staff member in the Lamberene Hospital.

She left her life of status and ease, and moved to Africa. Once there, the girl who was raised like a princess became a servant. She changed bandages, bathed bodies and fed lepers. She gave her life away to the poor and, because of it, found the happiness she’d craved for so long.

It was Albert Schweitzer who asserted, “One thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve.”

Happiness is not in the taking and the receiving. It is always in the giving and the sharing. A life of service makes happiness possible.

The world is overpopulated with self-serving people. Their vocabulary is filled with “I” and “me.” These individuals will never have a servant attitude without a transition in their thinking.

Croft Penz, the author says it well, “If you would have a change of attitude you must develop a new view of yourself and a willingness to treat others with love and forgiveness. You’ll find that this transformation is not only good for those in contact with you, but it’s good for you too.”

A startling study makes the point clear. Social psychologist Larry Scherwitz at the Medical Research Institute of San Francisco discovered that there is a link between self-centered behavior and heart disease. Sherwitz reports, “The people who referred to themselves using pronouns ‘I, me, and my’ most often in an interview (who were talking about themselves the most) were more likely to develop coronary heart disease, even when other health-threatening behaviors were controlled.”

The highest goals in life, health and personal success are reached by those who choose to serve. To be successful, all you need is to follow the advice you give to others. We should employ our passions in the service of life, not spend life in the service of our passions.

For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to offer His Life as a ransom for many. A life of service should always be predicated on these words said by the Master Himself, Jesus Christ.

In other words, “Don’t worry, be Happy. Serve!”

(Attend Francis Kong’s once-a-year big event this March 1, 2013 entitled, “Inspiring Excellence” at the SMX Convention Center. Learn best practices on business, finance, and good citizenship from Butch Jimenez, Chinkee Tan and Alex Lacson.  For registration and tickets, call Inspire Leadership Consultancy Inc. at 632-6310912 or 09228980195. You can also send an email to [email protected].)