How Many Paths Have You Walked? There is Room for Every Path

Let me ask you a question. How do you know if you are on the right spiritual path?

For years, I agonized over whether I was on the right spiritual path. As a teenager, I began investigating other religions—lots of them, not just Christianity. I grew up as a Catholic, so that was where I was as a child.

It was as a teenager that I began to think of God as a being I might be in accord with. But there were so many stories where this group or that group claimed to know the one true way to God.

How could any of them be more right than the other? Even in my own faith as a Christian, there were schisms where some folks thought Old Testament, and others thought New Testament and everywhere in between. It bothered me to think that age-old hatred of different groups of people was somehow bolstered by a religion.

I started to get het up—that’s an old word for heated up. I’ve lived in lots of places, and I can remember folks talking like that. Anyway, I objected especially to religions that didn’t think women had much to contribute or who needed to be barefoot, pregnant, and in the kitchen.

Now? Personally, I’d shy away from any religion that demanded restrictions be put on their members. Just saying. But really, I think anybody can worship God however they see fit.

We’re all different soul ages, the way I look at it. We’re all on different journeys in life. There’s a God for every foot around. God shoes. Imagine.

I can remember hearing people emphatically saying, “God would never want that.” How do they know? I mean, really.

So, the way I think about it, there is room in any religion for God whether you are Christian or not. Also, if you don’t believe in God, well, that’s fine too. You might someday. And, even if you didn’t, you’d probably put your faith somewhere, even if it is in yourself.

There is room for everybody, is what I think.

As far as does it feel right to you? Only you can answer that. Ask yourself where you find the most comfort. Is it with fellow churchgoers, or are you okay worshiping by yourself, just you and God? Do you like to read spiritual material? Uplifting material. Are you comforted by memorizing spiritual tracts, verses, or teachings?

Do you like helping others, no matter what they believe in?

I’ve got my own guidelines. Here is what I think: Don’t go around hurting others or yourself. Don’t look for the main chance to put yourself forward at the expense of others. Be fair. Be loyal. Be true. Be curious about the world and talk to God every chance you get.

One thing I didn’t mention is how afraid one group can be of another. When I was younger, I heard a priest say that even if we went to church with a friend from another faith, we had not fulfilled our obligation as Catholics. That stuck with me — the idea that God somehow wouldn’t show up in someone else’s house.

Years later, I read a story in which Paramahansa Yogananda asked his students whether they had worshiped that day. They told him they hadn’t, even though they’d attended church with friends. He scolded them gently and said, “God was in all those houses.”

Over the years I have come to think that if God is everywhere, then there’s room for every path. And whatever path you are on is the right path for you. They all take us home.

🌺 Pauline Evanosky
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