Jump directly to the Content

Ambitious Like Jesus

If your ambitions aren't worth your life, they're not big enough.

So my wife signs me up to participate in a research project at Duke that was investigating the "effect of exercise upon Type A personalities who had no previous experience with physical exercise."

Why did she think of me as a subject for such a study?

A Duke psychiatrist had gotten a government grant to conduct the research. As he interviewed me to determine if I qualified, he asked me questions like, "Do you ever curse people who cut you off in traffic?" Answer: "I'm a Methodist preacher. I would, if I were allowed, but I'm not, so I don't." And, "Do you often think about people who have moved ahead of you in your career." Answer: "How do you define 'often'?"

Finally, I said in exasperation, "Look. I'm here at Duke at the top of the academic heap for the same reasons as you—I'm such a nice guy. Ruthless ambition has nothing to do with it."

Why did Leadership ask me to write this article? Just because I've been elected as a Methodist bishop, have written 70 books and have a podcast, ...

November
Support Our Work

Subscribe to CT for less than $4.25/month

Homepage Subscription Panel

Read These Next

Related
What (Not) to Wear: A Female Pastor Prepares to Preach (Part 1)
Closet to pulpit
What (Not) to Wear: A Female Pastor Prepares to Preach (Part 1)
Our cultural expectations make my wardrobe choices difficult.
From the Magazine
I Was a Disenchanted Deadhead Who Found Christ on a Greyhound Bus
I Was a Disenchanted Deadhead Who Found Christ on a Greyhound Bus
When I fled the hippie scene, I never imagined how God’s Word would speak to me on board.
Editor's Pick
Come Ye Pastors, Heavy Laden
Come Ye Pastors, Heavy Laden
Learning to walk under the weight of ministry's many hats.
close