Exellence in All Things
In some earlier posts ( one, two ) I mentioned the possibly profane status of the term encore. Here, I will examine something related, a nuance of this idea: the remarkable interaction of contentment and ambition. This is a paradox post.
Ambition is something that our world thrives on. Ambition is encouraged and rewarded in the work place, the classroom and the home; most people smile at the man or woman who seems ambitious. And yet naturally something so sought after can easily dovetail into the negative. Ambition in excess, stretched to the breaking point, evolves quickly into jealousy, greed, and power-mongering. The desire for success becomes too pragmatic and discards ethical means to success as cumbersome and old-fashioned. Seeking after excellence is a worthy endeavor, so long as the seeker recognizes that the search itself must be done in an excellent way (substitute the word arête, justice, virtue, or truth for excellence if you like).
It is in the excellent search that contentment finds its place. For justice is everything in its right place, and sometimes the ambitious must stop and rest for a while, bask in what has been given to them, and understand the true value of where they are while not giving up their desire for where they want to be. Those who are ambitious in the best sense enjoy a life-giving contentment that empowers them to be more, but to be more at the right time.
Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:11-13, NKJV
Nov 18th 2005
Thanks for the excellent quote.
In my teaching in WS I challenge students to examine Binaries in our culture and to examine those binaries in order to see if they are truely in opposition . . .
Lately, I’ve had mixed feelings about this methodogy; for example, which binaries are ok to deconstruct and which are more meaningful as binaries . . . primary binaries such as right/wrong and good/evil are hard to talk about without the framework of christianity . . .
have i said too much? or not enough?
Nov 18th 2005
I think a good argument can be made that binaries usually have symbiotic relationships. Of course I do NOT mean to say that this is always the case, if I did that I would have to admit that Evil was necessary.
And in this case I think we are completely in step with one another over the necessity of Christianity in providing a framework for understanding primary binaries that stand alone in fierce opposition to each other (good never needs evil to be truly good).
This idea could stand for some exploration. SQ, you’ve said enough, but perhaps you’d like to say more. Maybe I will dedicate an entire post to this subject; perhaps you’d like to do the same; and if you feel that it doesn’t fit the theme of your blog I’d always be open to hosting a guest column…
Nov 20th 2005
thanks for the generous offer, but i haven’t quite worked it out yet . . . and honestly, whenever i do attempt to approach this topic, i have extreme difficulty–if not a full-blown, momentary crisis . . .
if you have further words, i’d love to hear them
Nov 22nd 2005
Thought you might be interested in the fact that one of the finals i received yesterday from my openly devout Christian male was an 8 page study on this very question (facinating b/c I only request 3 pages).
Perhaps I can request a copy and scan it to you . . .
Nov 22nd 2005
WOW! If it’s good I’d love to see it.
Thank you for letting me know, SQ!