I have always been fascinated by religion, and questions about the meaning of life. I have always wanted to believe in something that would help me find healing and peace. I even got a Religious Studies minor in college.

Back in 2006, I was Ordained on the internet by the Universal Life Church Monastery. This is a Multi-Denominational religious organization founded in 1977, and found all over the world.

According to their website,

The Universal Life Church Monastery (ULC) is a non-denominational, non-profit religious organization famous worldwide for its provision of free, ,legal ordinations to its vast membership over the internet. The ULC, recognizing the importance of maintaining open hearts and minds, embraces any individual, no matter his or her spiritual background, who wishes to become a member of this family of faith. Since its founding, the Universal Life Church has ordained more than 20 million ministers.

The ULC has also become renowned for its role as a champion of religious freedom, social justice, and spiritual expression. While the Universal Life Church Monastery has become a global leader in these fields, it largely attributes that status to the commitment and competence of the millions of empowered ministers brought together in a world tent of togetherness.

I am big on social justice and unity, but mostly at the time I got ordained through Universal Life because it was so easy to do online. It is so easy, in fact that several celebrities including Conan O'Brien, Benedict Cumberbash, Stephen Colbert and Lady Gaga were also ordained there.

I grew up in a Southern Baptist church, and at a young age I felt like I was called to the ministry. The only problem was, as a woman I couldn't be a Southern Baptist minister.

At first, I didn't realize that. I came back from Bible Camp all full of fire for wanting to help people, and received a lot of praise and encouragement from the church. None of the church leaders bothered to tell me that women couldn't be in the ministry.

Finally, a couple of weeks later, one of my girlfriends who was a couple of years older told me that I couldn't be a minister because I was a woman. She told me that maybe I could be a music pastor or a youth pastor. I felt pretty down about the whole thing, but I never said anything. Who was I to dismantle an entire culture of misogyny?

The church turned me away, unwanted. So I started to search all of the world religions for answers. I searched for years, looking for answers to the meaning of life, and other deep questions. I wanted to know what my purpose was. I wanted to help people.

I have always been obsessed with spirituality and religion. Now that I have had some time and some years away from the traditional church, perhaps it is time to do something with that certificate that is hanging on my wall right now proclaiming me a reverend.

Maybe it is a sign that I found this forgotten certificate now. Perhaps a sign that I should take up a forgotten dream. Maybe it is time for me to become a minister.

What would I tell you as my message?

Love more. Spread more light. And remember, you are born of love and light.

We are all bright, shining beings of light, we have just forgotten who we are. We have forgotten that we are all pieces of life's heart, all interconnected. Our survival as people depends on the best in each of us. We need to do what we can today to be our best selves, so that we can create the best future possible for our world.

In the coming year, I am going to learn more about starting a ministry, and find out what I can do to best serve others in the community and in the world.

Have a blessed day, my lovelies!