Life is service
Service is a dimension of love and consequently of nationalism. So it occupies an important place in a life, founded on, and rooted in, love.
Whatever somebody's profession, job or social status, he is never exempt of serving others. One of the kings of Habsburg wrote on his scrutcheon "I serve".
One of the titles of the pope is "Servant of Servants of God." As a heritage of the past, that hopefully is not over forever, public officials and clerks are called "civil servants", and it is even said of those recruited for the armed forces, that they enter into "military service".
Since everyone is familiar with the text, it is not necessary to quote Jesus' word, that he did not come into the world to be served, but to serve.
Life as service is not exclusively a Christian concept. Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore wrote: "I slept and dreamt that life was joy; I awoke and saw that life was service; I acted and behold, service is Joy."
People have their dreams and ideals. If they "act", they will find out in time that they are entitled to their happy moment in the limelight. Joy in itself is a service too, because it is contagious and makes others joyful, whereas a long face spreads irritation.
Greek philosopher Plato (427-347 BC) held very radical ideas about civil leaders as servants. In his book Politeia he said that one of their biggest enemies is riches.
Therefore civil servants were not allowed to own material possessions, even not a house. He deemed that their salary should be equal to that of soldiers, in order to survive in a complex and difficult life situation. They could not keep or even touch gold and silver ornaments.
"All this is for the sake of their own well being and that of the country," wrote Plato. "If they would have house, property and gold of their own, they are no longer guardian (read 'servant'), but landlord or house owner. They become a rude power holder, ruling mercilessly over other citizens, and are no longer their comrade. They will hate and spy on other people! But time will come that they themselves will be hated and suspected." Repeatedly, world history has given proof of the truth of these words of 2,400 years ago.
If people are each other's servants, they will not instrumentalize or exploit the other toward their own private ends, but rather respect and help them. Service humanizes a person, but "exploitation of man by man" may degrade him to a level lower than that of animals.
The monetary and economic crisis affecting Indonesia can also be seen as a blessing in disguise, because it brings many people together in mutual service and solidarity.
K.J. VEEGER
Jakarta