I WANT! I WANT! I WANT!

by Jenny Somers

February 20, 2000

Just like Jack Nicholson said in the movie A Few Good Men,"You can't handle the truth!" And we can't. If we could we wouldn't be here. If we could handle the truth we wouldn't be making a big deal about this copyright situation.

We are rebellious, spoiled and childish. We want protection as long as it doesn't infringe on anything we do. We understand the need for abolishing flagrant misuse of process but we never think it applies to us.

We have accepted the Course as truth. We have accepted the uncomprising integrity of Helen and Bill as the scribes of the Course. And yet, when it comes to whether Jesus actually communicated the need to copyright the Course, we resist. No! That couldn't be! Helen must have heard this one piece in error. (Why? Because I want to make money off the Course and this piece is getting in my way!) I am a spiritual one! I simply want to spread the good news about the Course. Why can't I do that? Why do I have to conform to any rules at all?

Good question. Why do you? Why does anyone? Why can't we take a symbol of truth and present it any way we want? We can. We have. It is called being in a body and thinking there is a world and that we are so damn special! So tell me something new. What would be new is if we did what Jesus wants us to. That would be new. That would be change.

Jesus told Helen to copyright the Course. No big deal. She did what he asked. Someone has to protect the copyright. This assignment has never left the core foursome that gave birth to the Course in book form: Helen, Bill, Ken and Judy. All four share in the same quality of uncompromising integrity. And now it rests with Ken and Gloria at FACIM. Again, resting in good hands and uncompromising integrity.

So the problem is not the copyright, the problem is we can't do what we want. I want! I want! I want! Sound familiar? Just like a little child. It is no wonder Jesus refers to us that way throughout the Course.

What is a mark of intelligence and maturity? Silence. Not all of this whining and carrying on. Oh poor me. I am the victim. All I want to do is something good and this big mean guy in New York won't let me! Is that true? Or is it true that you want to do it your way and not the way that is established? If it were true that this big mean guy in New York won't let you do what is right and good, then it must mean that no one gets to do their holy mission.

But this isn't true. There are other spiritual ones that are following the process and things are just fine with them. I know ... I know ... they just don't understand what is really happening ... it is different for you. You are a special situation. I know. But this is very serious! This is much more complicated than that! I am a very intelligent person and I am offended that you are making it sound so simple! It is a matter of specifics. The big mean guy in New York is specifically singling me out! He doesn't like me! He is just a big fat ego! He thinks he knows everything!

Of course it isn't actually said that clearly. It is masked with big words and sophisticated mental games. But the bottom line is that we are still not doing what Jesus asked if we are fighting against the Foundation.

Trust. There must be trust. This is a simple requirement in forgiveness but it isn't easy. It directly attacks our egos. Our egos do not trust anyone anytime unless it best suits our needs. And what is the need here? To publish a book? To make money? Oh I forgot.

It should be put in these terms: I am a holy Son of God who is just trying to do what a holy Son of God is supposed to do. I am trying to spread the good news about forgiveness and I simply find that publishing a book just so happens to be the best venue to do this. There ...that sounds much better. Hey! Wait a minute! What do you mean I can't just publish my book the way I want to?! Listen you miserable ego, who the hell do you think you are?! I am a Son of God just like you are! You aren't so hot! Wait till I tell everyone how you are judging my book and not letting me do what I want! You'll see you sorry Son of God! You'll see!!!

Oh I keep forgetting that we are much more intelligent than that.We are much more important than that. We are highly educated in the ways of this world and I keep reducing it down to childish terms. Sorry. It just is much clearer this way. It will always be very simple. The truth is very simple. And once you begin to understand that, you will find that you become much more peaceful and silent. In fact, your biggest claim to fame may be that everyone refers to you as a nice guy. A kind, sweet, gentle and easygoing guy.

That is when you know you are following Jesus.

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To reach the candid kid in Arizona please send your comments to: Jenny Somers (jenny@foothillsgraphics.com)