Of all the words in the English language, the word “ship” must surely be among (if not) the most adaptable to the most unrelated meanings.
The word itself is defined as a large, seaworthy vessel, but also refers to a ship’s officers and crew. Ship also denotes the transporting of goods by air, land and sea. But far more prolific are the meanings when used as a suffix as in:
Membership – a body of members at large of any organization, religious, social, civic or other particular group of like-minded individuals.
Friendship – the increasingly rare state of being friendly or being just friends – a state often lost in the attempt at creating…
Relationship – a closer connection between friends that invariably gets intertwined in emotional entanglement from which friendships seldom survive.
Hardship – suffering and privation; the state of being deprived of what is needed for existed, sometimes unavoidable but often self-imposed through bad judgment, poor arrangement of priorities, inability or refusal to accept certain realities.
Stewardship – the office, duties, and obligations of a steward whose individual responsibility is to manage his life and property with proper regard for the rights of others.
Trusteeship – the act of legally being entrusted with funds or property to be administered for the benefit of another… and the beat goes on and on.
Regardless of the word, however, the “ship” suffix generally places a common denominator to it that adds the power of added responsibility. How this added responsibility is handled is the determining factor of one’s self esteem (or lack of), one’s contentment or unrest.
It all reverts to the original definition of “ship” as a large, seaworthy vessel. If as a suffix that ship is not seaworthy it must sink along with whatever or whomever is emotionally attached to it. Which brings us to:
Survivorship – the ability to live beyond the ordinary or expected life span of; beyond the life of another, or against all odds. But of prime importance is …
Fellowship – a community of interest, companionship, a body of fellows, communion, friendliness, etc.
“It behooveth man to adhere tenaciously unto that which will promote fellowship, kindliness and unity,” we read in the Baha’i Holy Writings, for … “Yea are the fruits of one Tree and the leaves of one Branch … Deal ye one with another with the utmost love and harmony, with friendliness and fellowship.
Investigate!
