Just Call me REV!

So, I officially became a Non-Denominational Reverend last month. Random? Not really. Any one who knows me is aware that I am a lover of life, a ponderer of the unknown, and a ardent supporter of unconditional love. I am a fan of understanding and communication, and believe that with patience, genuine kindness, and self reflection most problems can be overcome.

But, that still does not answer the "Why" of my decision to become a Reverend.

Well, to be honest and somewhat corny, its rather simple - I love love, and I feel that nothing is possible with out the help of the creator. Now whether you call the creator: The great Spirit, The goddess, Jesus Christ, Allah, Jehovah, or G-D; I think what you call him is really a minor detail. I often think jokingly to myself how antithetical it would be for one's soul to arrive at the gates of the afterlife and have the creator just shake her head at you and say you been calling me Christ that whole time and that really pissed me off -- so no paradise for you.

Now I do think that the creator can become upset at the negligent exploits of the flesh, yet I believe that righteous vengeance is reserved for the amoral, sociopaths. That may sound harsh but think of it - how many amoral, sociopaths are there on earth? Not that many! This means that the creator is more concerned with our salvation. When I say salvation I don't necessarily mean ensuring that your soul reaches heaven (if your a christian) or that you attain Nirvana (if your Buddhist); But rather that the creator is concerned with our efforts to save human kind.

Our salvation is in our treatment of others, NOT in a forward thinking sense of doing something nice or living a kind existence just so that you can end up in "heaven," rather in creating a heaven on earth because of our genuine kindness and desire to advance human kind.

This brings me to what I believe to be my salvation - love. Love is the single most propelling force in my life - where it is self love, love of learning, or love of living. Love is why I think I was put here on earth; to love, be loved, and solemnize the love of others. The solemnizing of the love of others is the crux of why I became ordained. I want to be able to celebrate, sanctify, and solemnize the love others have for each other by presiding over their weddings.

I became a Reverend to help those couples that feel that they have spiritual link to the creator, want their wedding ceremonies to have some ritual, but over all don't feel that one religion captures all of their beliefs. For those couples a non-denominational Reverend like myself would be able to work with the couple to craft a unique, individual, and spiritually significant ceremony that would both capture the sacredness of the day and the important traditions the couple feel must be apart of such an occasion.

So, if you our your significant other think you may be interested in a Non-denominational Wedding crafted to your spiritual specifications, then I am your Reverend. Please feel free to contact me directly at -- Rev.A.Rivera@gmail.com. I reside in NJ, but will certainly travel anywhere. I only ask that you give me at least 2 months notice before the date of ceremony so as to meet with you and apprise myself of the laws of the county where the ceremony will be performed so that I can follow any necessary legal requirements.

Have a blessed day, and go forward to do only that which is right.