Not far from the geographic mid-point of the United States, a small railroad and cattle town advertises itself to incoming motorists with the sign: "This is the center of the universe."

That sounds so very human, doesn't it? "This is the center of the universe."

"Conceit," someone said, "is what makes a little squirt think he is a fountain of knowledge."

No wonder the disciples were embarrassed when Jesus asked them what they were discussing. They were discussing who among them was the greatest. They had fallen prey to the most natural but also the most deadly human passions--the desire to be number one.

It is interesting that Jesus didn't scold them for wanting to be in the top spot. He didn't even reprimand them for wanting to be great, for he knew that men and women must be motivate…