I have heard it said that I want to have everyone believe as I do, or that I want to turn everyone into a “Joyce clone.” ROTFL!!! Give me a break. Once my daughter even accused me of wanting everyone to believe as I do. My reply to her was, “Only in one way. I want everyone to believe that everyone has the right to choose how they will believe.” Right there is something that a lot of people don’t seem to understand. If someone asks me what I believe about any subject, I am happy to tell them. But does that mean that I expect them to accept my beliefs as truth for them? Of course NOT. My truth may not fit into their spiritual path at all, and would only make things confusing and harder for them. Do I want to create a lot of “Joyce clones?” Lets examine that idea for a moment. Now there are some that think that Joyce is an ok gal, but there are a lot of others that do not feel that way. In fact, there are some that have a hard time dealing with some of my spiritual ideas. Now if they have a hard time dealing with one Joyce, how could they handle a hundred of me, or a thousand or a million of me running around?
Traumatic shock!!
Each of us is an unique individual, hooray! And each of us is on our own individual spiritual path. It would be extremely uncomfortable and difficult for me to walk on your path, or for you to walk on mine. Each of us is on the path that we should be on and at the place on that path where we should be. Now this does not mean that we will remain on that path for the rest of our lives. There may well come a time when we have learned what we needed to learn by being on the path that we have been on and are ready to learn more by setting foot on a different path. If that happens, the new path may be very similar to the old one, or it may be radically different. But if we do change paths, it must be of our own choosing, not because Joyce or anyone else has said that you should.
So do I want to change your path? Heck no, I have enough problems following my own path without trying to lead anyone else on a new path not of their choosing.
People often ask me questions regarding their own path. I always try to answer them truthfully, and the answers that I give are sometimes at odds with my own beliefs. But they are right for them on their path. That is certainly not trying to change their path or turn them into a “Joyce clone.”
So I try to help others as much as I can, on their own path. And if they wish to change paths, I try to help them there as well, but only with guidance, and to the path of their choosing. It is not my place to choose a path for them.
Will I debate paths and concepts with them? Certainly, but only if they wish it, and I never tell them that they are wrong. I will give them alternative views and if that causes a modification in their path, then it is probably what they were looking for on some higher level. Otherwise they would not have wished the debate in the first place.
Joyce Chandler
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