To desire and strive to be of some service to the world, to aim

“To desire and strive to be of some service to the world, to aim at doing something which shall really increase the happiness and welfare and virtue of mankind — this is a choice which is possible for all of us; and surely it is a good haven to sail for.”
Thus spoke Henry Van Dyke, poet, minister, and seeker of light, whose words still shine as a star for those who wander through the fog of selfish ambition. In this quote, he reveals one of the most enduring truths of the human spirit — that the greatest purpose of life is service. To live not merely for oneself, but for the happiness, welfare, and virtue of mankind, is to align one’s course with the current of eternity. The one who sails toward such a haven, Van Dyke reminds us, does not drift aimlessly upon the sea of life, but moves with noble direction, guided by the compass of goodness.

The origin of these words lies in Van Dyke’s deep moral and spiritual philosophy, born from his life as both a scholar and a minister in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He lived in an age of industrial ambition and material pursuit, when many sought progress without purpose. Against this tide, Van Dyke wrote as a voice of conscience, calling people back to the simple yet profound idea that the measure of a life is not what one gains, but what one gives. His belief was not merely religious, but human — that every person, no matter their station or wealth, possesses the ability to serve, to uplift, and to make the world a little brighter than it was before.

At the heart of this teaching is a paradox both humble and heroic: that service is not the duty of the few, but the privilege of all. One need not wear a crown or command an army to better the world; a kind word, a compassionate act, or a faithful labor done in love may ripple farther than any throne or title. True greatness, Van Dyke teaches, lies not in dominance, but in devotion — in the quiet, steadfast resolve to contribute one’s share of goodness to the vast ocean of humanity. For what is life, if not the brief voyage of a soul across storm and sunlight, seeking at last a haven worthy of the journey?

Consider, then, the story of Florence Nightingale, who, born into comfort and privilege, might have spent her life in ease. Yet, hearing the call of suffering, she chose the path of service. In the bloodied tents of war and the fevered wards of the sick, she gave herself wholly to the task of healing. Her lamp, burning through the night, became a symbol of compassion that still endures. She did not conquer nations; she conquered despair. And in doing so, she fulfilled exactly what Van Dyke speaks of — she increased the happiness and welfare and virtue of mankind, and found in that devotion the peace of a soul that has reached its true harbor.

Van Dyke’s words remind us that service is not sacrifice — it is fulfillment. When one gives of themselves for others, they do not diminish; they expand. The heart grows larger by the weight it lifts. The person who lives only for their own pleasure soon finds their joy hollow, for it is a joy without roots. But the one who lives for others discovers a deeper gladness — the joy of meaning, the serenity of purpose. As the ancients said, “The candle loses nothing by lighting another.” So too, the soul that gives light to the world shines all the brighter.

And there is wisdom, too, in Van Dyke’s image of a haven. For life is indeed a voyage, full of storms and temptations. Many chase after shores of wealth or fame, but these harbors are shallow and treacherous; their safety is illusion. Only the harbor of service, of love in action, offers true rest to the weary spirit. When one’s life is spent in the labor of kindness, even the tempest loses its power, for the sailor knows the direction of his heart. To serve humanity is to steer one’s vessel by the North Star of eternal good — it is to find not only purpose, but peace.

So, my child, take this teaching as both compass and call. Desire to be of service. Strive to add to the world’s happiness, not its sorrow. Do not wait for greatness to begin; begin with goodness, and greatness will follow. Help the lost to find direction, the broken to find healing, the weary to find rest. Let your actions, however small, be the seeds of light sown in dark soil. For each time you act with kindness, you take one step closer to the haven Van Dyke speaks of — the harbor where the soul finds contentment in knowing it has served something larger than itself.

And when at last your voyage nears its end, and you look back upon the waters you have crossed, may you see not the wake of self, but the bright trail of love you have left behind. For in the end, all storms will cease, and all ambitions will fade, but the service given in love endures beyond time — it becomes the song of the soul, echoing through eternity, forever reminding the world that to serve is the truest form of happiness, and to love is the highest art of living.