Article June 1, 1981 Issue

Can't—or won't?

JENIFER C. WECHSLER

Does it sometimes seem too hard to do what you know you should do? Does "I can't" become a litany? Honest examination often exposes that phrase as a cover-up for the more adamant "I won't."

It's helpful to scrutinize thought when challenges seem insurmountable and we're tempted to think or say "I can't." For a better response we need to acknowledge the divine will, God's will, as the only true authority and power. This means that we deny human will its claim to power.

When Moses was called by God to take the children of Israel away from Egyptian tyranny, he at first demurred because he felt he lacked leadership qualifications. But when it became clear to him through divine inspiration that God, the great I am, would be his support in this mission, he was able to obey God's command. Moses had to relinquish much human opinion (I can't) and human will (I won't) before the work could even begin.

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