Of all the words in the English language the word “ship” must be among, if not the most adaptable to the most unrelated meanings.
The word itself is defined as “a vessel larger than a boat for transporting people and goods by sea.” The word ship also denotes the transporting of goods by air, land or sea. But far more prolific are the meanings when used as a suffix as:
Membership – An organized body of members-at-large of any religious, social, civic, political or other group of like minded individuals.
Friendship – The increasingly rare state of being “just friends,” a state often lost in the attempt of creating.
Relationships – a closer connection between friends that often gets intertwined with emotional entanglement from which neither of the latter two “ships” survive.
Hardship – Suffering and privation; the state of being deprived of what is needed for existence; sometimes unavoidable but too often self-imposed through bad judgment, poor arrangement of priorities and/or inability or refusal to accept curtain truths and realities.
Stewardship – The office, duties and obligations of one 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 that adds the power of increased 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 will 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–(I can certainly professionally relate to the latter). Consequently, despite many others, a good ship to sail out on is . . .
Fellowship – Community bound together in interest, friendliness, true companionship, mutual support and togetherness–(epitomized with each visit to Calvary United Methodist Church).
“It behooveth man to adhere tenaciously unto that which will promote fellowship, kindliness and unity,” we read in the Baha’i Scriptures for, “Ye are the fruits of One Tree and the leaves of One Branch…Deal ye one with another with the utmost love and harmony, with true friendliness and fellowship…”
(Investigate!)
