Each of us has far more potential to serve the Highest Cause, and each other, than we ever tap into. Many of us seeking to commit our lives to such service have, even if only briefly, considered leading or joining an established ministry - at least until the responsibilities associated with our real-world concerns reasserted themselves in our thoughts. How can we even begin to commit to a ministry service with all the work we currently do and all the responsibilities we have? Such a choice seems to be reserved for those with no families, no need to work (or a willingness to live in abject poverty for their cause) and none of the other demands on their time that most people have. I was agonizing over the same problems when the following question popped into my head:

Why do I have to join a ministry in order to do the work of a ministry?

I know the sort of things I want to accomplish, and the sort of change I want to affect in the world. Surely, if I put my mind to it, there could be any number of ways to take the sort of daily activities that we all need to attend to - the need to have a career and make a living, have a fulfilling social life and other "worldly concerns" - and rework them so that they accomplish their surface goals (such as getting the dry cleaning collected and the bills paid) while at the same time they are used as a vehicle to further my spiritual goals. In other words, to create a sort of free-ranging, one-woman ministry.

Then I realized that there were already people out there doing just this, famous people like Martin Luther King, Jr., Oprah Winfrey, Jimmy Carter, Maya Angelou and Dr. Patch Adams, as well as the less famous (but just as effective) individuals like the doctors who donate their time and expertise to healing the destitute or victims of war, disaster or crime, or even Joe and Jane Q. Public who dedicate their lives to a certain cause or concept, men and women of the world who used a personal tragedy, success or epiphany in their lives as a turning point in their behavior or as emotional currency to "fund" the creation of something greater than themselves. These people still had to eat and pay rent, still had families and jobs and social lives to attend to, but at the same time, they either did live or are currently living their lives as a full-blown ministry, serving the greater good as much as any organizational ministry under the "disguise" of living their lives to the fullest.

The truth that I have discovered is that each of us, with the right amount of support, creativity and an open mind, can find ways to turn our once normal and mundane lives into living works of spiritual art, not only through the obvious methods such as supporting our favorite causes and contributing our money to charities, but also by modeling the behavior of a spiritual leader, being available to help others at need, taking our own spiritual standards public (and not backing down when others want us to "play along" with unethical or un-loving activities) and taking responsibility to actively pursue the creation of a positive, nurturing environment for everyone.

For example: I am expressing my ministry by working for global change through personal evolution, and I do this not only through coaching, writing and speaking, but also by constantly seeking and finding ways to do good in everyday situations even if they don't relate to my "career ministry" directly - such as smiling at everyone in order to contribute to and increase the positive attitude of the world around me, collecting aluminum cans on my walks with the dogs (I get a few pennies, non-renewable resources are recycled and the world is a cleaner place) and complimenting others on jobs well done or challenges well met, even if I don't know those I am speaking to.

[Note: Yes, strangers may be flabbergasted to be complimented for, say, handling a toddler's screaming fit in a loving manner (and those of us who are shy may be just as strained by the exchange!). But it is really the responsibility of each of us to not only complain when we see someone mistreating someone else, behaving in a socially destructive way or creating an atmosphere of intimidation or endangerment for others, but to actively support and encourage those doing the opposite. Praise always reinforces good behavior much better than complaints do. If enough people feel that their efforts to do right are being appreciated and acknowledged, then over time the whole behavior base of the society changes as these people stick with the hard decisions and choices, and pass that ethic down to their children.]

The path to creating your own personal ministry is a matter of a few simple steps:

First, you need to begin work on getting your own house in order. You don't need to be a perfect person, or even be able to play one on TV. But you do need to be in a position to focus on being the best "you" there is. After all, how far can the ministry get if the minister is kaput?

Second, you need a cause. This could be something as specific as raising money for at risk Latino children in a particular neighborhood, or as broad as creating a pocket of happiness around you wherever you go. It doesn't matter what it is, just that you have a destination to head toward. "Random acts of kindness" are wonderful, but "targeted acts of will" get more done. (And don't worry about getting "trapped" by a single idea that you may grow out of. It's your ministry. If you decide to change horses mid-race then by all means, jump! Staying with a particular cause after you've lost your interest can only hamper your activities, and does a disservice to those you're trying to help.)