Editorial May 14, 1949 Issue

AMBITION

George Channing

Ambition, properly understood, is an asset, not a liability. Christian Science does not destroy ambition. As with everything, so with ambition, Christian Science destroys only the false sense and replaces it with the right concept. Ambition that appears directed toward a material object is false; that directed toward spiritual attainment is true.

True ambition is akin to prayer. It is desire directed toward a right objective so intently and intensely that the desire is swallowed up in attainment, quenched in the peace of realization that right, or spiritual, desire is never unattained, but its fulfillment is always present in eternal reality.

A dictionary definition refers to this right sense of ambition. While stating many less desirable concepts of the word. it notes the fact that ambition is "an uplifting desire to achieve or obtain." To the Christian Scientist, desire that can be described as "uplifting" is precious. It has indeed the status of prayer.

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