part of her own former message. I honor that decision by Terry, who has resolved to make
her life a never-ending and courageous search for a spiritual reality with which her soul
deeply resonates. I wish that all people would seek divine truth with such fervor.
That is what Terry taught me above all else. She taught me to seek Eternal Truth with never-
ending determination, no matter how it upsets the apple cart, no matter which of my former
beliefs it overturns, no matter how much it might put off others. To this mission, I hope I have
remained faithful.
You have. Believe Me, you have.
I have some more questions on this business of joyfulness, however.
Go ahead.
Well, You said that the way to feel joyful is to cause another to feel joyful.
That’s right.
So how do I feel joyful when there’s no one else around?
There’s always a way to contribute to Life, even when you are alone. Sometimes, especially
when you are alone. For instance, you do your best writing when you are alone.
Okay, but supposing you’re not a writer? Supposing you’re not an artist, or a poet, or a
composer, or someone who creates in solitude? Supposing you’re just a regular person, with
a regular job, a homemaker, perhaps, or a dentist, and now all of a sudden, you’re alone.
Maybe you’re a retired priest, living in the retired priests’ home, and your time of contributing
to the lives of others seems over. Or actually, a retired anything. Retirement is often a time of
depression for people, who sometimes feel their self worth slipping, their usefulness reduced,
and themselves abandoned.
And it isn’t just people in retirement. There are others. People who are ill, who are shut in,
who for many reasons do not—and cannot—have much of a sense of life beyond
themselves. Then there are the ordinary, everyday folks who do just fine when they are
active and with other people, because they do as you say—they bring joy to others. But even
they have times when they are by themselves, alone with their thoughts, with no one else
around and no obvious way to bring joy to others.
I guess what I’m asking is, how do you find joy inside your— self? Isn’t this idea of finding joy
by bringing joy to others a little dangerous? Isn’t it a bit of a trap? Couldn’t it lead to the
creation of little martyrs—people who feel that the only way they can deserve happiness is to
make others happy?
Those are good questions. Those are very good observations, and good questions.