Dag Hammarskjold was a Swedish diplomat whose
family lineage had served the Swedish Monarchy since the 17th
century. His father had served as the
Prime Minister of Sweden. He had spent
his life in public service and believed there was no worthier way than to spend
one’s life in the service of God and humanity.
Although he came from a privileged class he spent his life in humility
and service.
In 1953
during a radio interview soon after being Appointed Secretary General of the
United Nation Dag Hammarskjold made the following statement: “ "But
the explanation of how man should live a life of active social service in full
harmony with himself as a member of the community of spirit, I found in the
writings of those great medieval mystics [Meister Eckhart and Saint
John of the Cross for whom 'self-surrender' had been the way to
self-realization, and who in 'singleness of mind' and 'inwardness' had found
strength to say yes to every demand which the needs of their neighbors made
them face, and to say yes also to every fate life had in store for them when
they followed the call of duty as they understood it."
Dag
Hammarskjold was a mountain climber and compared his Christian walk to mountain
climbing. He kept a diary of what he
called, “A sort of white book concerning my negotiations with myself and God”. After his death his writings were turned into
a book titled Markings. Markings is full
of spiritual wisdom and provides inspiration in overcoming the many difficulties
we face throughout our lives.
