As the time draws near for thinking about careers, it is natural for one to consider his ambition for the future. Ambition of the right kind is helpful. It acts as a spur to keep us moving when apathy or discouragement would bring us to a standstill.

One meaning of "ambition" is, an elevating desire to achieve. Desire is surely uplifting when, for instance, one's objective is to contribute to human experience some really worthwhile service or to aim at achieving success in a chosen endeavor or career. To be successful one may often find a need to lift up his thoughts, his concepts, and his standard of values to higher levels.

In the light of what we learn of man's true being through the study of Christian Science, we find that true success is doing what is natural. We learn through this study that all the qualities which contribute to genuine success are attributes, expressions, of God. Every one of us his true being reflects them.

Since man is the expression of God's unlimited goodness, there is no possibility of his ever lacking any of the qualities that promote success. Of course, we have to prove this in our human experience; and this is where the work comes in, just as it does in any worthwhile endeavor. But just the knowing that these things are true is a wonderful basis from which to start and to keep on going.

Do you cherish an ambition to express marked ability or skill? And even though you want this for right reasons, do you perhaps have misgivings about the worthiness of your ambition? Mrs. Eddy has this to say: "Obedience to Truth gives man power and strength. Submission to error superinduces loss of power." ^{Science and Health, p. 183;} Such clear-cut, concise, practical statements show the way to accomplishment Examined in the light of our scholastic studies, particularly of science subjects, we have no difficulty in accepting them, for we know that it is only through obedience to the basic rules of mathematics that we are able to arrive at correct solutions.

And what of the elevating nature of ambition—the motives and aims? Let us see what the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, has to say on the subject. "Unselfish ambition, noble life-motives, and purity,—these constituents of thought, mingling, constitute individually and collectively true happiness, strength, and permanence." ^{p. 58 ;}

Remembering that it is both natural and normal for God's idea, the image and likeness of a perfect God—and this means us—to be noble and pure, we avoid falling into the error of assuming that we have, or have not, some sort of personal goodness and ability, either to make us outstanding or prevent us from being so. When we understand that man reflects God's power and goodness, we learn how to be obedient to Truth, which "gives man power and strength." And we can deprive ourselves of ability or power only when, through ignorance or self-will, we ignore the rules and submit to mistaken views. We know well enough what happens when we ignore the rules of mathematics. We soon find ourselves unable to arrive at correct solutions!

Christ Jesus is called the Way-shower, so why not let him show us the way to fulfill our ambition to be an influence for good in human experience? His public career, as recorded in the New Testament, lasted for only three years, but the effect of that career on the world is incalculable. The power for good it generated remains to bless and save our race in spite of massive submissions through the ages to erroneous interpretations of his message. And this because he was always obedient to Truth.

What did this supremely successful man say of himself—and he was successful, for he proved everything he set out to prove! He said, "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me." ^{John 5:30;}

He was never in danger of losing his power to judge, justly, accurately, the will of God, for he refused to submit to the error of claiming for himself a personal sense of goodness. A ruler once went to question him, addressing him as, "Good Master." ^{Luke 18:18, 19;} Before even replying to the ruler's question Jesus said, "Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God."

As we study the record of the most successful career ever known on earth, we know that Jesus' way was not an easy one. And we know that when he said that those who followed his teachings and example could expect to be as successful as he had been, it was not going to be easy for them either. But what a goal to aim for!

The ambition for success based on right motives and with the perception of the source and function of ability as Jesus exercised it will surely be fruitful. We have Mrs. Eddy's encouraging words to spur us on: "Working and praying with true motives, your Father will open the way. "Who did hinder you, that ye should not obey the truth?' " ^{Science and Health, p. 326;}

This adventure into the realm of infinite possibility for good, learning to control one's thinking with Christianly scientific accuracy as the Master did and promised that we should do also, offers us unhampered opportunity to advance. All, not just a favored few, are free to take part in this adventure.

Our environment, opportunites, and happiness, the achievement of our ambition, are the direct outcome of our grasp of the facts of being which Jesus' career demonstrated and which Christian Science explains. These facts give each one of us the power to obey Truth and be successful too. What an ambition, what a noble life motive, so to grow in the understanding of these facts that we prove them daily and show by our happy, successful lives that "now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ"! ^{Rev. 12:10}