Albert Schweitzer and the power of Caring
One day, a few months after his 21st birthday, Albert Scheitzer made a decision that was to change his entire life. He decided that after his 30th birthday he would spend the rest of his life helping human beings in some way. He did not know what kind of work he would do, but he had nine years to make up his mind.
Albert Schweitzer was born more than a hundred years ago in Alsace, which was then part of Germany but is now part of France. When he was five years old, he began to learn to play the piano. Three years later he started lessons on the organ; very soon he was good enough to play at church services.
When he was 18, Schweitzer went to the university of Strasbourg. The son of a minister, he was interested especially in theology, the study of religion. But when he was not studying or attending class, he would practice on the organ. His favourite composer was Johann Sebastian Batch, a famous German organist who lived about 300 years ago. While still a student, Schweitzer became an excellent musician and an expert on the life of Bach.
In those days in Germany, every young man had to spend a year training in the army. But even when the time came for Albert Schweitzer to take military training, he did not give up his studies.
After Albert Schweitzer was graduated from the University of Schweitzer , he became a teacher and a preacher. He wrote a book about Bach and another book on the building and playing of organs. He also wrote two books on religion that are still read and discussed today.
But these successes were of little importance to Albert Schweitzer. In 1905, when he turned 30, he told his friends he wanted to be a doctor and open a hospital in Africa. He felt that Caring for others when they became ill was a good way for him to spend his life.
It took courage to leave his comfortable home in Europe to go to Africa, but in 1913, Schweitzer, now a doctor , and his wife Helene, traveled to Lambarene, a village on the Ogowe River in what is now Gabon in west central Africa. There he built his hospital.
The hospital did not look like the hospitals in the United States. It was designed so that the path of the hot African sun would travel along the length of the roof to lessen the effect’s heat. The roof also hung the sun’s heat. Two sides of the building were made of mosquito netting. This kept the mosquitos out while giving the hospital plenty of fresh, cool air. Later, houses were built around the hospital so the families of his patients could live in them while they helped care for their loved ones.
Soon people began to flock to Lambarene to be healed by Dr. Schweitzer. They saw that he cared deeply about them, so the word spread and even more people came to Lambarene. Dr. Schweitzer worked very hard. He spent long hours in the operating room, visited all the patients at the hospital, and often worked far into the night. He seemed never to run out of energy.
When World War I broke out in 1914, Dr. Schweitzer had to close the hospital. Made a prisoner, he was sent back to Europe. Bur never he forgot the people he left behind. After the war ended, he returned to Lambarene and rebuilt his hospital.
For nearly 40 years, Dr. Schweitzer continued his medical work in Africa. To help pay his hospital he traveled to Europe to give organ concerts. He also gave the money he earned from his books to the hospital.
Many people, after hearing Dr. Schweitzer talk about the hospital, gave money to help it grow and serve more people.
The story of Dr. Schweitzer has inspired many others to follow his example. One person, who started a hospital in Haiti, named it after Dr. Schweitzer, another person did the same thing in Peru.
After Schweitzer dedicated his life to helping others.
His efforts made life better for thousands of people. He showed that caring about people should be an important part of all our lives.
