I was raised by two non-religious, but more importantly, non-spiritual parents. I mean no beliefs whatsoever beyond what their senses could prove. They were completely grounded in the material, the physical and the visible.*

I was sent away to sleep-away camp from the ages of eight through fourteen. (I used the term ‘sent away’ because it was not voluntary.) Drivers Ed got me out of it when I was fifteen and the year before I chose spending the summer with my grandparents in Century Village instead of camp.

It was a predominantly Jewish camp for kids that came from wealthy Jewish areas

of Long Island. My family didn’t live in one of these areas, so I was deemed the poor kid because I didn’t own designer anything! I didn’t know nine year-old’s could be bitches!

(Back in the day they would have been called a JAP –Jewish American Princess, which translated into bitch.)

Needless to say, I didn’t make many friends, not with the girls at least and I developed a prejudice against Jews.

When I started meeting new people in my mid to late teens, I would not tell them my last name. I didn’t want to be pre-judged as belonging to the same group as “those girls” from camp.

I believe one of the reasons I choose my parents was because through their non-belief I was given the freedom to explore. However, my exploration didn’t start until my late twenties.

I read somewhere that God = Love. At that point in my life I wasn’t sure what I believed about God. I was in the midst of my personal journey and had been avoiding reading the very popular Conversations with God: An Uncommon Dialogue, Book 1 by Neale Donald Walsh because of the word God in the title. After reading that God = Love, I figured I could try reading CWG and substitute Love for God, and possibly get something out of the book. It worked really well! I was awakened to so many new ideas and perceptions. I believe CWG kick-started my personal transformation.

A few years later, I noticed people wearing WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?) bracelets. I thought it was a wonderful reminder for people to think and act with love. But for me, I needed to replace the ‘J’ with a Love. So, I (being financially challenged) made my own reminder ‘bracelet’ by writing WW♥D? on a thick rubber band.

I still have not become comfortable with the word God, but it is less problematic than it used to be. I am a strong believer in a higher power and even got ordained as a Spiritual-Interfaith Minister.

I generally prefer the terms, the Great Spirit (because of my connection to Native Americans and the belief that I lived many past lives as one), the universe, the universal consciousness, or a higher power. Does it really matter what term you choose or are comfortable with as long as your intentions are to love and heal people, situations, and the world?

*I was going to use the word sensible but its meaning isn’t what I thought it should be! Like visible and audible, I wanted a word that meant capable of being sensed to cover all the senses. But in looking up its synonyms, besides meaning level-headed and rational, it also means aware, conscious and mindful. Go figure!

May you perceive and receive all your blessings.

With Much Love,

Rev. Michele

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