Roots hold me close,
Wings set me free
Spirit of Life Come to me
Come to me
Spirit of Life, Hymn # 123 in Singing the Living Tradition
Three major influences have shaped my journey to ministry: family, faith, and parenthood, all connected by themes of nurturing and healing.
My family of origin taught me the value of belonging, community, and care. My father, a doctor, and my mother, a teacher turned psychotherapist, modeled healing and education. Frequent moves in my early years highlighted the importance of relationships, while my parents’ work inspired me to care for others and the broader world.
Faith has also been central. God was a constant, familiar presence in my childhood, seen as a companion and friend. Though I later struggled with traditional theology and left the Episcopalian church, discovering Unitarian Universalism helped me reconnect with a spiritual community and embrace my beliefs authentically. Spiritual practices like brewing and teaching life sciences deepened my connection to creation, animacy, and the Divine in all things.
Parenthood has profoundly shaped my understanding of compassion. Raising two neurodivergent children, including a transgender child, has revealed the injustices of narrow societal norms. Advocating for them expanded my empathy for marginalized people and taught me to approach adversity with love and understanding.
I am called to ministry to nurture and heal the world. Aware of my biases and imperfections, I strive to dismantle barriers within myself and others, peeling back layers like an onion to uncover deeper truths. Grounded in the Unitarian Universalist belief in the transformative power of love, I feel inspired to build a more inclusive and compassionate world where all are cherished.
