A Course in Miracles® asks us to question every value we hold dear. Our motives in hanging on to these so-called values keep this ego world in place. A few years ago, while in the shower, I heard a voice in my head say "whenever you hear the expression `It's the principle that counts' it will be wrong" I knew this message was for me as I remembered how many times in the past I have used this remark to justify what I wanted to say anyway while implying that 'although it didn't matter to me', there was some important (maybe unwritten) `principle' that needed to be adhered to. The word "principles" like "honor", "reputation", and "image" and countless other concepts are merely fabrications of the ego, which have absolutely nothing to do with our reality in any way. Expressions like "having a `good' name", "what will the neighbors think?" and "not only justice should be done but it should be seen to be done" are other insane expressions that the world holds dear.

I remember in my early years in business, just how much importance I placed on our building company's `image, and through association, my own image as a reliable and honest businessman. We even had a logo printed on our trucks stating "Our reputation protects your investment."

It was such a relief to find A Course in Miracles® and realize that I no longer need to constantly seek approval of others as "my worth is guaranteed by God". Nevertheless I am still amazed how subtly the ego can thread it's way into my thoughts almost without me being constantly aware of it, even involving our work with A Course in Miracles®

Ken and Gloria Wapnick were staying at our home during a particularly busy period, when, Pam and I seemed to be inundated with letters and a constant flow of phone calls or people coming to see us about books and tapes or just to talk about A Course in Miracles®. In many cases it seemed necessary to spend hours with some people who would keep coming back with the same basic problem unresolved, unwilling to accept that only with a change in their attitude to one of forgiveness, would they begin to find peace. At the same time, we were very engrossed in last minute planning for their Sydney workshops.

Ken, noticing just how busy we were, told us of an incident that happened several years earlier when Helen was still channeling and writing. Helen had questioned Jesus about a prominent person at the time who, even though he was always publicly seen to be doing good in many areas, was becoming totally bogged down with an ever increasing work load and nothing seemed to go right for him. Helen received the following message, which I now have displayed on my desk: -

"What happened to `I am here to be truly helpful" was my first thought until the importance of this message started to sink in. I then realized that the accent should be on the word "Truly". Is it truly helpful, to delay anyone finding the answer from his own internal teacher from whom the perfect and totally loving answer will always come? The Course itself says "Trust not your good intentions, they are not enough." Maybe my ego has just taken on another guise that appears very loving and helpful but actually is more concerned with the opinions others hold about me. If I forget that I am the messenger and did not write the message and think I have any special gifts of God, I have failed to remember that all of God's gifts are shared with all my brothers everywhere as equal Sons of God.

It is not up to me to change my brother. According to the Course, all I have to do is to "accept the atonement for myself". This may, at first, appear to be a very self-centered attitude, and in a way it is, but my mind is all there really is to work on.

My ego loves to be constantly busy and only when I return to my right mind, do I realize just how little I had been thinking about God while in that state and how I allowed my peace to slip away. While preoccupied with what I was doing and planning my next move, thinking I could handle it all on my own, I had `dismissed' Holy Spirit as my guide. Being vigilant "Only for God and His Kingdom" requires my consistent effort. I also need to realize that nothing is set in concrete and I must continue to challenge every concept that I hold.

"When every concept has been raised to doubt and question, and been recognized as made on no assumptions that would stand the light, then is the truth left free to enter in its sanctuary, clean and free of guilt. There is no statement that the world is more afraid to hear than this:

Bill McDonald

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