GR AFTED M A GA ZI N E c o m mu i t y and f ellow ship
COM路MU路NI路TY noun
a fe e l i n g o f fe l l o w sh ip w ith oth e r s, a s a r e su lt o f s h a ri n g c o mmo n a ttitu d e s, in te r e sts, a n d g oa ls.
PH OTO TAK E N BY H AN N A H F O R S B E R G
CONT
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LETTE R FROM T HE E DITO R Editor- in - c hie f Johan n a S c hn a kenb erg w el co m es rea d ers t o i s s ue t w o o f G ra f t e d .
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A B OUNDING GRACE Carlot ta C iste r n as r e min ds us t h a t no m a t t er t h e ci rcum s t a nce, t h ere i s p ea ce i n G o d ’ s plan.
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LOV E L Y L IT T L E T HINGS Shelby He w itt r e min ds us to ap p reci a t e t h e s m a l l , s w eet , o v erl o o ked a s p ect s o f li fe .
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TRU MP CARD: YOU CAN A LWAYS P RAY Abig ai l Wal sh, a mission ar y to B urki na -Fa s o , reca l l s h er s t rug g l e o f b ei ng a w a y fr o m th e peop l e she l ove d.
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I WA NT TO BE L IKE T HAT A ND P I CT URE OUT OF FRA ME A poem an d shor t stor y fr om Anna S o l o m o n o v er i n t h e f i ct i o n co rner.
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IN TE RVIE W WIT H JE SSIC A Z I EG EL BA UER An int e r vie w w ith music ian , si ng er, a nd s o ng -w ri t er J es s i ca Zi eg el b a uer.
TENTS
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A LIGHT ON HUMAN T RAF F I CK I NG Anti-traffic kin g ac tivist O l ivia E ri cks o n s h a res s o m e o f t h e w a ys w e ca n b e i n v o lv e d in help in g those c aught in the s ex t ra d e.
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THE ST ORY BE HIND R OS ES F ilmmake r Paul H astin gs gives rea d ers a b eh i nd -t h e-s cenes l o o k a t t h e p ro cess o f c r eating the up c omin g shor t fil m “ Ro s es .”
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HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT ? Graf te d busin e ss dir e c tor Nob l e N i m m o ns w i t h a s h o rt s t o ry a b o ut us i ng t h e r e s o u r c e s God has give n to us.
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FIV E WAYS T O JUMPST A RT CREA T I V I T Y Managin g e ditor Je ssic a Rac kley o n h o w t o g et p a s t a n a rt i s t i c b l o ck.
WWW. GR AFTEDM AGAZI NE.CO M
PH OTO TAK E N BY H AN N A H F O R S B E R G
LETTER FROM
D e a r r eader s , I’m so glad to we lc ome you to this se con d i s s u e o f Graft ed M ag azi n e. Al l o f u s b eh i n d t h e s c e n es hope that it will e nc oura ge you in y o u r wal k wi t h C h ri s t an d t h at i t wi l l d ri v e y o u t o m e e t new people and expe rience His king d o m m o re fu l l y. A t t h e beginning of April, with the launc h o f i s s u e o n e, we s t ay ed u p l at e t al k i n g ab o u t t h e m a g azine, talking a bout ourse lves a nd di s cu s s i n g j u s t wh at was i m p o rt an t t o u s an d wh a t w e w a n t ed to s ee in the ne xt issue . B y the en d o f t h at ev en i n g , wi t h p ray er i n o u r h eart s an d w o r d s o f h olines s on our lips, we knew tha t we wo u l d n ’t b e t h e s am e wi t h o u t t h i s g ro u p o f p e o p l e a n d t h a t we w anted to e nc oura ge tha t fe eling i n al l o f o u r h eart s . Th i s month of J u ne we ’re focusing on C o m m u n i t y an d F el l o ws h i p . T h e b o n d we s h are b e t w e e n G o d a nd man. I t’s so e asy to lose sight o f Hi m i n al l t h i n g s d u ri n g t h i s t i m e o f t h e y ear. We ’ r e s o b us y w ith going, a nd sta rting, a nd fini s h i n g . We’re fi n i s h i n g cl as s es , reg i s t eri n g fo r n e w o n e s, making plans for summer, trying to s ee fri en d s we h av en ’t s een al l y ear. We’re t ry i n g t o re m e mber how to brea the in a quiet room wi t h o u t s o m et h i n g i n o u r h an d s t o d o , wi t h o u t a n y re p o r ts to f ill by the morning or e ssays t o wri t e. . . o r real l y an y o f t h e t h i n g s t h at k eep u s c r a z y d u ri n g the s em ester months. N o w w e’ r e f aced with this idea of quie t an d i n al l o f t h i s p eace, s o m et i m es we g et l o s t i n i t . M a n y times it s ee ms like we ’ve be en doin g o n e t h i n g fo r s o l o n g , an d s u d d en l y wh en t he t i m e s c h a n ge, you’ r e s tuck without the regular g ro u p o f fri en d s at s ch o o l an d co -o p s an d a s e e m i n gl y e n dles s s umm er a he ad. You c an slip int o l et h arg y, feel l i k e y o u ’re l o s t an d al o n e. T h i s i s w h e re f ellows hip is so important during t h i s t i m e, as i t al way s i s . Wh et h er i t co m es from y o u t h g ro u p, lis tening to a good se rmon, re ading y o u r B i b l e b y y o u rs el f, g o i n g o u t fo r co ffee w i t h s o m e f r iends w ho love Je sus, or ta lking t o y o u r m o m ab o u t t h i n g s y o u b o t h n eed p ray er f o r, fe l l o ws hip is im portant. F e l l ow s hip and c ommunity a re not a s abs t ract as we t ry t o m ak e t h em s eem i n o u r C h ri s t i a n s u b -cultur e. They’re not something you go s o m ewh ere t o fi n d . T h e B i b l e s ay s i n M at t h e w
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M THE EDITOR
1 8 : 2 0 , “For w her e two or thre e are ga thered t o g et h er i n m y n am e, t h ere am I i n t h e m i d s t o f t h e m .” That m ean s if your grandma love s J es u s an d l i k es t o t al k ab o u t h i m wh i l e y o u t w o f o l d l a u n dr y, it’s f ellowship. It me ans that if y o u an d y o u r fri en d s l i k e t o t al k t h eo l o g y wh i le h a n gi n g o ut in a s kate park or c limbing a mou n t ai n o r ru n n i n g a d o zen m i l es , i t ’s fel l o ws h i p. I t ’s a q u i et comm unity of belie ve rs who a re n ’t l o o k i n g fo r at t en t i o n o r s eek i n g o u t p rai s e, a n d o h h o w good it is f or the soul. I’v e a lways looked a t it like this. The on l y d i fferen ce b et ween h an g i n g o u t wi t h fri en d s f o r t h e a ft e rnoon and f ellowship are your hea rt’s i n t en t i o n s . If y o u ’re wi t h p eo p l e wh o l o v e Go d a n d w h o s e des ir e is to serve Him, then tha t i s g o i n g t o co m e o u t i n y o u r t i m e t o g et h er ev en t u a l l y. O p e ning your hea rt to what God is doing i s s u ch an i m p o rt an t p art o f o u r wal k wi t h C h r i s t . S o m ething a f r iend of mine a lways sa ys i s t h at we n eed t o co m e t o g et h er wi t h fel l o w b e l i e v e r s w i t h our hear ts d e sire being “ inte ntiona l fel l o ws h i p . ” S o t h at o u r h eart s an d m i n d s an d s p i r i t s a re o pen to His voice a nd His will for ou r l i v es . We h o p e t o en co u rag e t h at wi t h t h i s i ss u e ! We ’re dwelling on 1 John 1:5-7 for issue t wo . It s p eak s s o l o u d l y fo r wh at Go d i s d o i n g i n o u r l i v e s and we hope it lifts your he art. “ T h i s is the m es sage we have he ard from Hi m an d an n o u n ce t o y o u , t h at Go d i s L i g h t , a n d i n H i m ther e is no da rkne ss a t all. If we say t h at we h av e fel l o ws h i p wi t h Hi m an d y et wal k i n t h e d ar knes s , we lie and do not pra ctic e t h e t ru t h ; b u t i f we wal k i n t h e L i g h t as He Hi m s e l f i s i n t h e Light, w e have fe llowship with one an o t h er, an d t h e b l o o d o f J es u s Hi s S o n cl ean s e s u s fro m all s in.” S o h er e w e ar e, intentionally fac ing the d ay t o s erv e Hi m an d cal l Hi m “Ab b a F at h er. ” O u r h e a rt s ar e over f lo wing with psalms a nd h y m n s an d s p i ri t u al s o n g s (E p h es i an s 5 : 1 9 ) as w e b o w b e fo r e our K ing. We’re so glad you get to j o i n u s . M u c h love, J o h a nna Schnakenberg, Editor in C hie f PH OTO TAK E N BY C ATH ER I NE G R A CE
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But you a r e not a l one in t his And you a r e not a lone in t his A s br othe r s we wi l l st and and we’ll hol d your h and Hol d your h and T IMSHEL - MUMF OR D AND SO NS
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PH OTO TAK E N BY H AN N A H F O R S B E R G
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CONTRIBUTORS
CARLOTTA CISTERNAS My name is Carlotta Cisternas and I am saved entirely by grace. I was born in the woodsy humidity of southeast Texas but now call the windy plains of Oklahoma my home. I could tell you loads of boring facts about myself like how many pets I have (two; seven if you count all the chickens) or how old I am (seventeen and crazy), but I’ve found that it’s easier to get to know a person through the things they are intrigued by. So: I have been known to get inexplicably excited over plants and I very much like reading books. I am fascinated by the language and litany of life. I’m also a bit of a grammar snob. The road is always calling and I have left pieces of my heart all over the world. I’d pick coffee over tea any day, I have an unashamed love for country music, and people-watching is one of my favorite past-times. I’m inspired by people like John Steinbeck and Audrey Hepburn and other such brave and courageous folk. I try not to take life too seriously and I’m very glad to meet you. blog. carlottacisternas.com
SHELBY ALEXIS My name is Shelby Alexis Hewitt- I am a photographer + beekeeper + smiler + wearer + stripe obsessed + wild haired + barefoot shoe wearer + hot tea drinker + lover of light & connection + living deep in the heart of TX.
OLIVIA ERICKSON My life is marked by passion and the desire to see the kingdom of Heaven invade earth. I call Fargo, North Dakota home as I study social work and babysit runaway teenagers to pay rent. I’m a photographer and stereotypically love adventures, coffee, and Audrey Hepburn. My dreams include owning a hedgehog, climbing mountains, and working with survivors of sex trafficking. livphotographs.com + livfierce.wordpress.com.
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JESSICA RACKLEY Hey there, I’m Jessica. I’m twenty years old, born and raised in the southwest. I love good literature, film photography, indie/folk music, iced coffee, stormy days, and Italian food. God has really blessed me with an aesthetic personality and a love for creating. I’m the Managing Editor for this here magazine, and I’m working on writ- ing my first novel. I love God’s Word, His instructions, and the salvation He freely gives. I don’t know where I’d be without His grace and mercy. He’s blessed me with a wonderfu l husband and family, as well as everything else I could ever need. I love my King more than I can say and I want to be more like Him in everything that I do.
NOBLE NIMMONS Just a normal kid stumbling on awesome stuff. Started playing music at a young age allowing me to now play many instruments, sing and write songs in my spare time. I have swam for many years, enjoying it to this day, and love being in competitions when I am not in school. I am currently attending Sam Houston University studying Finance where I trade stocks between classes and hang out with friends around campus. I love my Jesus and He continually trains me in His ways showing me how to interact with those around me.
JESSICA ZIEGELBAUER Jessica Ziegelbauer is 19 years old and is originally from Houston, Texas but has lived in Jackson, Mississippi now for ten years where she is an upcoming senior at Belhaven University with a double major in Arts Administration and Music with an emphasis in vocal performance. Singing has always been a part of her life, and it was about five years ago that she started her Youtube channel posting originals and covers of songs. Since then, she has grown as a performer, branching out to theatre and musicals. Some of her favou rite roles include Baker ’s Wife (Into the Woods), Ado Annie (Oklahoma!), Glinda/Aunt Em (The Wizard of Oz), Shelley (Hairspray), May (Last Train to Nibroc), and Queen Lillian/Fairy Godmother (Shrek the Musical). She hope to continue to grow and learn as she pursues her acting and singing career and is so thankful for her beautiful friends, family, and Savior that surrounds her with love a nd support. https://www.youtube.com/user/jessiezs ings
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CONTRIBUTORS
PAUL HASTINGS Paul Hastings is the former Director of Public Policy at the Texas Home School Coalition and is the producer of “Roses”. He has active interests in filmmaking, music production, technological innovation, and business start-ups. When not working on his latest project at Imagivation he can be found blogging at PaulHastings.me.
ABIGAIL WALSH I hail from the beautiful land of northwest British Columbia, Canada.
A
year past being a homeschool graduate, I recently returned home after a missions trip in Burkina Faso, West Africa.
I’ve been blessed to be
a part of incredible writing communities all through my teenage years. I’m in love with foggy mountains, fictional people, true words, and beautiful worlds. Stories have shaped my view of the universe since I was four and have propelled my love for the glory in the “true myt h” that is the Gospel. WE WERE ALSO HAPPY TO INCLUDE ANNA SOLOMON IN THIS ISSUE!
We’re always looking for a fresh voice to grace our pages here on Grafted Magazine. If you have a great talent you’d like to share with us, we want to hear it and spr ead it throughout the world.
CONTACT@GRAFTEDMAGAZINE.COM
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PHOTO CONTRIBUTORS HANNAH FORSBERG People call me Hannah, which means “grace”. And I can fully attest to my life being one overflowing of that sweet, sweet grace from Jesus. I am adopted by my human father and by my heavenly father, and I am so very grateful to be called theirs. I love Jesus with my whole heart, and I love seeing how, in the midst of the valleys and aches, there is abounding joy and rest because of Him. I hail from Huazhou, China, but nowadays you can find me residing in Atlanta, Georgia. I am fan of taking photos of people, too. You can take a look at my work + writings by visiting www.hannahforsberg.com.
CATHERINE GRACE I’m Catherine: I have a thirst for travel which cannot be quenched and a love for Jesus and his truly amazing grace. Rainy days, long talks with friend and p lane rides make my heart full to bursting. I’m a designer and photographer living in Australia.
blog.imcatherinegrace.com
JOHANNA SCHANKENBERG Hey friends, I’m Johanna Grace Schankenberg, but you’d probably know me best by Johanna Grace throughout the internet and photography world. I’m in the last of the finale of my seventeenth symphony, or you might just say I’m 17. I live on a farm in Texas with my parents and six siblings, write a lot of words, sing a lot of offkey songs, and try to see the art in the every day. I’m filled with joy because of Jesus Christ; the light and air I breathe. I read a lot of books, sometimes play some musical instruments and blog an awful lot. You can find me at these places: www.johanna-grace.com, and follow me on twitter (if you like) @imjohannagrace.
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A BOUN D IN G G R A C E photos and words by carlotta cisternas
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Th e re ar e s om e things that you c an’t pl an fo r,
u e t o b e s o . Wh y s h o u l d I d o u b t ?
o r d a r e even to wish for. None of what I’ m emb a rk i ng on this ye ar was in my life’s pla n , n o r
An d s o , l es s t h an a m o n t h fro m wh en y o u r e a d
d i d any of it cr oss my mind. B ut whe n t h i n g s
t h i s , I wi l l b e o n a p l an e j et t i n g t o w a r d s a
l i k e this happen — to me, to other peo p l e —
6 -m o n t h s t ay i n Nai ro b i , Ken y a. T h i s m a y s u r-
y o u o f ten s tand the re and fee l your unw o rt h i-
p ri s e y o u . Aft er al l , I am o n l y a g i rl f r e s h o u t
n e s s a nd the pr esence of grac e wa sh ove r y o u .
o f h i g h s ch o o l wi t h n o p ri o r reco rd i n A f r i c a .
“ H e re I am, Lor d , se nd me” is a good, n o b l e
Ni n e m o n t h s ag o , I was j u s t as b ewi l d e r e d a s
t h i n g to s ay, but ofte n it turns into som et h i n g
y o u . It was t h e s t art o f m y s en i o r y e a r a n d I
m o re like, “M e, Lord? I will go, but I am n o t
was wad i n g rat h er wari l y t h ro u g h t h e r o u t i n e
w o rt hy.”
t es t i n g an d co l l eg e v i s i t i n g . No t h i n g o u t o f t h e o rd i n ary. An d t h en t h ro u g h way s t h at I c a n n o t
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Th i s year has held ma ny surprises, ye t I d i d n o t
q u i t e ex p l ai n , t h i n g s s h i ft ed g rad u al l y a n d s u d-
g o i n s ear ch of any of the m. R athe r, all h av e
d en l y at t en d i n g u n i v ers i t y was n ’t i n m y n e a r
fo u n d m e. I have oft felt like a small chi l d b e-
fu t u re, b u t a g ap y ear was . In a s eri es of e v e n t s
i n g gently car r ied through month afte r mo n t h ,
t h at can n o t b e cl as s i fi ed as co i n ci d e n c e , b u t
a n d I have the gr ea te st fa ith tha t it will c o n t i n-
rat h er p ro v i d en ce, Go d h as l ed m e t o E a s t e r n
A fri ca as a mis siona ry, a nd here I am, n i n e
C h ri s t i an h o m e, h av e b een t o l d t h at I’ m l o v e d
m o n t hs later, wr iting this to you.
b y J es u s ev ery d ay o f m y l i fe, b u t i t h as n ’t b e e n u n t i l t h i s p as t y ear t h at t h o s e wo rd s h a v e t r u l y
I g u e ss what I ’ m trying to say is that somet i m es
s u n k i n . M o v i n g t o Ken y a fo r 6 m o n t h s i s r a t h-
t h i n gs f ind you eve n whe n you’re not loo k i n g
er a l eap , y et I can n o t ev en b eg i n t o d e s c r i b e
fo r t hem . H eaven knows I wa sn’t looking t o g o
t h e p eace t h at was h es o v er m e each mo r n i n g . I
t o K enya, but s ince the moment it c hose m e, I
h av e, at l as t , reach ed a p l ace i n m y l i fe w h e r e I
h a v e f elt at peace.
h av e s t o p p ed wo rry i n g . T h at d o es n ’t me a n t h a t I d o n ’t h av e p l an s fo r t h e res t o f m y l i f e — I
I’m n ot wr iting this for a ttention or la u d , b e-
d o — b u t t h ere i s s weet n es s i n j u s t b e i n g a n d
c a u se I don’t des erve any, or to da zz le yo u wi t h
l et t i n g Go d wrap Hi s arm s aro u n d y o u , t r u s t i n g
m y b r aver y, because it’s non-existe nt. I’m wri t-
i n Hi s p l an . Yo u d o n ’t h av e t o s t ru g g l e t h r o u g h
i n g t h is becaus e I want you to know that t h ere
l i fe al o n e! An d wh en y o u t ru l y, fi n al l y r e a l i z e
i s i m meas ur able grac e a nd that God c ar es fo r
t h at , t h ere i s wo n d er an d b eau t y an d f r e e d o m
y o u . He car es f or your slighte st nee ds, wat ch es
an d g race t h at y o u d i d n ’t k n o w co u l d e x i s t .
o v e r you even whe n you find yourself i n s o li t u d e . I t’s a f unny thing; I’ve grown u p i n a
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“You don’t have to struggle through life alone! And when you truly, finally re alize that, there is wonder and beauty and freedom and grace that you didn’t know could exist.” - CARLOTTA CISTERNAS -
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LOVELY LITTLE THINGS words and photos by shelby hewitt
I believe in irony.
symptoms started decreasing. I could breathe! No more wheezing, sneezing and just struggling
When I was little my nickname was “Pooh Bear”
to breathe on a daily basis.
or “Pooh”. I know what you’re thinking, and it has nothing to do with a mess I made in my dia-
One thing that anyone who buys organic hon-
per. It was just what my mom started to call me ey knows is that it is expensive, and the more and now I know why.
local the honey, the better. When the bees use nectar from the flowers and trees around you to
I have suffered from allergies and severe asthma make honey, the better your allergy symptoms since I was an infant. I was on a preventative will get. And you can’t get any more local than but I still couldn’t leave the house without my your backyard! Somehow I stumbled across a inhaler. I was quite dependent. We started look-
video that Kinfolk made about beekeeping. It
ing up natural remedies to ease my breathing made my heart swoon. I soon showed it to my and honey was at the top of the list. Honey has
dad, but he was a bit skeptical.
been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. Long story short, I started drinking tea
After much discussion and research, my dad
with honey every morning and every evening gave me the go ahead! We now are the owners before bed. Then after a few days, my asthma of three very active beehives. We are “Urban
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Honey Pioneers”. (If you get that reference, I such amazing creatures, so small, yet so comLOVE you!) That is why I find my nickname plex. Each bee has a job, whether a drone, workironic. “Pooh Bear” loved him some honey! Not er bee, or queen. Each job is just as important as only do I enjoy beekeeping, my dad enjoys it the next. The hive would not operate without all too. Having something that we can do together, of its inhabitants working together. that we share a common interest in, is priceless. (Even though he thinks this whole bee adven-
These lovely little things are a constant remind-
ture was his idea…)
er of “Who” my heavenly Father is. I should never be fearful, worried, or doubt the future.
I know this is an interesting hobby. But I love climbing into my over sized bee suit to tend to Just trust, have faith, and walk in His promises. my bees. The way they buzz around my head, Whether I will keep bees for a few more years protecting their hive, is truly mesmerizing. or till my last days on this earth, I will continue Needless to say, I’m smitten with my bees. They to admire the often overlooked, find joy in the go from flower to flower collecting nectar then lovely little things and be content in the minireturn to their hive to make honey. It’s in those mum. Keeping in mind that, “Gracious words moments that I don’t understand how people are honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to don’t believe there a divine Creator. He created the bones.” —Proverbs 16:24
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“Pro m i se m e yo u ’ ll a l ways rem e m b e r : Yo u ’ re b rav er t h a n yo u b e l i ev e, a n d st ron g er t han yo u s eem, a n d s ma rt er t han yo u t h in k .” -A.A. Mil n e-
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There is a power in prayer that trumps.
I recently spent several months in a West African country, teaching missionary children in a little village where there were only four English speakers and an unreliable email
TRUMP CARD:
connection.
YOU CAN ALWAYS PRAY
I sit at my keyboard now, close my eyes and I
photos and w or d by abigail w al sh
can feel the sun, feel the way a colorful skirt swishes around my ankles, see the red dust, feel the weight of a small child on my lap. I sit at my keyboard now, and I remember how lonely I was, how much I longed for the community that I had left back home, supporting and praying for me.
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I spent a lot of time thinking about communi-
a tangible force, isolation like gray smoke.
cation (or the lack thereof), because the only downside to having the best friends in the uni-
How was I supposed to thrive, to pursue Christ
verse is when they are an entire universe away. with joy without the people who usually stood Snippets of their lives came through emails. It
by my side and held my hands up when I was
seemed that a lot of us were undergoing the kind afraid? of soul shaking that comes with change, the kind that strips down to the bone and reveals insuf-
Before leaving, one of my greatest fears was
ficiencies and fears. I learned that we were all that the distance would drift us apart, that the afraid, and lonely, and searching for God even
sisterhood, the profound bond of significant
as we felt all of our bones shattering.
care that had been forged, would cool and slip, that cracks of space would drive little wedges
It is hard to go it alone when your community into the significance of our relationships. That is at the whim of an internet connection in a we would care less because of the distance. village in the middle of nowhere. Especially for the first few weeks, the lack of community was So while the snippets of their lives came
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through, I learned to do the only thing I could sands of miles of distance, exhausted space and do when I was helpless and there was no one in heavy hearts cannot sever a bond that is knotted close proximity to hug.
with pleas to the Father who made us one.
I le a rn ed th a t you c an al ways pray.
Feel the water lapping around your knees, feel the gray smoke; feel the heaviness in your chest
So I took long bike rides in the early mornings,
of not being able to put your arms around the
when the huge Burkina sky was lit up with the people you love. Feel the lack, the loss, the dissun, and I usually cried, and I spoke the names tance of those people who make you care more of my friends to my Jesus, who cares so much
about God and the universe and humanity, and
about our relationships that one of his last feel your desperation to care. Feel the ache of prayers on earth was, “that they would be one, loneliness, and pray. as I and the Father are one.� You are caring in a way most profound and most Prayer is one of the most profound bonds you eternal. Prayer will always be the bond that will ever have with another human being. Thou-
21
trumps distance.
22
WHAT WE’
JOAN
son g : D o E v e r y t h i n g b y
CARO
show : Tu
JOHA
book : B l u e Li k e J a
LO
song : H o l y S p i r t
CATH
son g : T h e H e a r t ,
bo o k : cr a z y l o v
NO Keep
JESS
a l bum : T h e R e m o t
son g : G h o s t S t
DYL
sh o w : T h e M e n
a l bum : Y o u H a v e M y H
23
’RE LOVING
NNAH:
y S t e v en Curtis Ch apm an
OLINE:
ur n on A M C
ANNA:
a zz b y D on ald M iller
UIS:
t by J es u s C ulture
ERINE:
, N EE DTO BREATHE
ve - F r a ncis Ch an
OBLE: a di a r y
SICA:
t e Par t, Th e Id lew ild
t o ries b y Co ld play
LAN:
nta l i s t, s e aso n 6
Hea r t b y An th em Lig hts
PH OTO TAK E N BY H AN N A H F O R S B E R G
24
25
I WANT T O BE LI K E T H A T - A NNA S OL OMON
Wh at i s g en u i n e? Is it a sm i l e o r a h an d s h ak e o r the wa y you s ay h el l o ? Or at t en t i v e eyes tha t s eem h ap p y t o m eet y o u simply be cau s e y o u ’re y o u ? M ay b e it’s the wa y l au g h t er fi l l s y o u r l u n g s instea d o f ai r. Ho w y o u r s h i rt i s wrinkle d b ecau s e y o u d i d n ’t feel like ironing i t t h i s m o rn i n g . It m i g h t b e the ha lf-e m p t i ed co ffee i n y o u r h an d tha t will kee p y o u awak e a few m i n u t es longe r. Yo u rem i n d m e o f an o cean bree ze tic k l i n g m y ch eek s wi t h s al t y spra y. An o l d m ap l e t ree wi t h n am es ca rved in it. A b eat -u p p ai r o f s h o es an d a worn pair o f j ean s . An o p en wi n d o w, a rooftop view. Al l o f t h e g o o d b o o k s I’ve e ve r read . R ai n d ro p s p l ay i n g a tin roof s o n g . I b arel y k n o w y o u , but you w an t t o k n o w m e. Yo u as k my na m e fo r a s eco n d t i m e, like you wan t t o rem em b er i t . I ca n’t imag i n e wh y y o u ’d wan t t o . You are s o m u ch b et t er t h an m e in e ve ry way . Yo u are a s h el t er for the bro k en , a l i s t en er o f s t o ri es . You are a fr ee s o u l , u n fas t en i n g cag es of tra pped bi rd s , an d d eco rat i n g t h e s k y to remind u s h o w b eau t i fu l i t i s .
PH OTO TAK E N BY H AN N A H F O R S B E R G
26
PICT URE OUT OF F RA ME by Anna S o l o m o n
Tr ac i e, I ca n’t ca l l yo u, For r e aso ns m o re t h a n I’v e s a i d . I’m su re t o d i s a p p o i nt yo u, I’m n ot the bo y t h a t yo u d rew i n yo ur h ea d . —S te ve Moa kl er, “ B o y Th a t Y o u D rew ”
27
Y o u a lways wer e an a rtist. I re me mber si t t i n g o n t h e d o ck , feet s u b m erg ed b en eat h t he w a v e s , s a l t w ater in our ve ins. W atching your fi n g ers fl o w acro s s t h e can v as b al an ced at o p t h a t r i c k e t y e a s e l , the one you found in your gra ndpa ’s at t i c. T h e b reeze s n eak i n g s t ran d s fro m y o u r p o n y t a i l t o t i c kle your cheeks. F ac e frec kled and co l o red b y t h e s u n , ey es s q u i n t ed , s t u d y i n g t h e e n d l e s s s k y . B ar e f eet gr ipping the wood be ne ath y o u , l i m b s ach i n g t o cap t u re b eau t y . A l l y ou ever wan te d wa s to c ompose a mas t erp i ece. S o m et h i n g wo rt h y o f m u s eu m wal l s o r t a s t e fu l e x hibits w here champa gne a nd ca viar were s erv ed . E v ery d et ai l h ad t o b e ex act l y a s y o u e n v i sioned, or you we re n’t sa tisfie d. Do n ’t y o u rem em b er? I eas ed i n b eh i n d y o u , res t i n g m y c h i n in the dip of your shoulder. “Magen t a h aze” an d “t as t e o f cl em en t i n e” s p i l l i n g fr o m y o u r h a n d s , s tr eaking majestica lly ac ross the 1 1 x 1 4 . Yo u r t u rq u o i s e ey es ab l aze wi t h ferv o r , t a n n e d a rm s m oving to a hushe d rhythm as you wo rk ed . P ri d e wel l ed u p i n m e, wat ch i n g y o u s e i z e t h e b re a king daw n. I t o u c hed m y lips to your te mple a nd nuz zl ed m y n o s e t o y o u r ear. B u t y o u s co l d ed m e, c l a i m i n g t h a t something ab out it felt “ off” now. Was i t real l y t h e p ai n t i n g t h at fel t o ff? Or was i t m e a l l a l o n g? You haven’t introduc ed us, but I k n o w h i m . T h e b o y t h at y o u d rew. He h as s t rai g h t h a i r , a d e e p ebony or light gold, cut short lik e y o u r fat h er’s . Hi s h ei g h t ex ceed s m i n e an d h i s j e a n s a re n ’ t old and r ipped. He doe sn’t even w ear j ean s ; h e wears p res s ed k h ak i s an d a b l u e b u t t o n - u p t o m atch his eyes. Two transluc ent pools t h e co l o r o f “s ap p h i re m u s i n g s , ” y o u r fav o ri t e p a s t e l . H i s hands ar e unwa ve ring; strong e nough t o l i ft y o u , s o ft en o u g h t o b race y o u r fal l . T h e r e i s n o g u i t a r s tr apped to his ba ck, no melodie s s wi rl i n g i n h i s h ead . Hi s p ace i s l ei s u rel y , a sl o w a mb l e d ow n a path without twists and turns . He k n o ws ex act l y wh ere h e i s g o i n g . Qu i et a n d s h y , a n c h or ed and dr iv en. He’s a n illustration o f s t ren g t h , an es t eem ed i l l u s i o n i n y o u r h ead . T h a t ’ s a l l h e is . All he ever will be . Bu t my cur ls ar e wily a nd a pale brown, m y fram e o n l y 5 ’1 1 ”. T h e L ev i s i n m y d res s er a r e w e l l w o rn w ith holes in the kne es and the slack s i n m y cl o s et are b ran d n ew. Hav en ’t t o u ch e d t h e m s i n c e Aunt Ruth’s fune ra l. R umpled flann el s an d fad ed t -s h i rt s rep l ace wh i t e co l l ars a n d s i l k y t i e s. I have eyes the color of the fa de d o ak d o ck , t h e o n e we m ad e o u r o wn . M y fi n g ers a r e c a ll o u s e d f r om pluc king strings, from va in at t em p t s t o s h are t h e t h o u g h t s I can ’t ex p l ai n . C a n y o u h e a r them in the chords I pla y? Do they res o n at e i n y o u r b l o o d ? Y o u s aid I ’ m r eckle ss. I ca ll it re stle ss. M y p l an s are wri t t en i n t h e wi n d an d I’m j u s t t r y i n g t o c h as e them down. S o maybe I talk too m u ch . M ay b e I p u l l ed y o u t o o cl o s e t o o s o o n . M a y b e I c o l or ed outs ide of your lines. B ut at leas t I wan t ed y o u . At l eas t I’m real . No t a fi gu r e y o u s c u l p ted, not a landsca pe you painted. N o t a s u b j ect y o u s k et ch ed . Yo u ’re ri g h t , T rac i e . H e ’ s p e rfect. Y ou place d e ve ry attribute metic u l o u s l y ; each s t ro k e o f y o u r b ru s h was fl awl es s. N o o n e e l se can com par e. PH OTO TAK E N BY H AN N A H F O R S B E R G
28
A s a n a rt i st by a l l a cc oun t s, wi t h a c t i n g, s i n gi n g , dra wi n g a n d s o m a n y ot h e r pa st i m e s, w h a t i n spi re s you i n your w o r k ? D o you fe e l t h a t a l l o f t h e se pursui t s a r e co nn e c t e d?
INTERVIEW WITH JESSICA ZIEGELBAUER
I’m i n s p i red b y l i fe. B y e v e r y l i t t l e t h i n g . I am a re l a t i v e l y p o s i t i v e p ers o n an d I g e n u i n e l y l o v e l i fe, s o I wo u l d s a y t h a t
I ( J o h a n na) had the chance to talk to
j u s t b ei n g al i v e, b ei n g t h a n k-
a v e r y dear p erson this p ast mo nth.
fu l an d h ap p y, l o v i n g t h o s e
Je s s i c a J oy Z ieg elbauer is an aspir-
aro u n d
i n g a c t ress, song w riter, sing er and
l au g h an d s i n g i n g at t h e t o p o f
fo l l o w e r of J esus C hrist. She is a stu -
m y l u n g s i n t h e car al l i n s p i r e
d e n t i n her senior y ear at Belhav en
m e an d m ak e m e v i ew l i f e a s a
C o l l e g e in J ackson, Mississippi, is
o n e-ch an ce g i g .
m e,
m ak i n g
people
a c o n n oisseur of g ood books , go o d mu s i c and g ood f ood. I ’m p roud that
Go d i s al s o , o f co u rse , a n i n-
I g e t t o call her m y f riend an d also
s p i rat i o n . He g i v es me h o p e
my c o u sin. She has a lot of amazing
an d k n o ws m y fu t u re w h i c h i s
t h i n g s to share in her lif e, so with -
s o co m fo rt i n g b ecau s e I l i k e
o u t f u r t her ado, let’s w elcom e her to
to
Graf ted Mag azine!
m i cro m an ag e
ev e r y t h i n g
an d al t h o u g h t h e t h i ng s I d o can affect m y l i fe, Go d h a s t h e p l an an d He k n o ws ! N o t m e . S o t h at ’s en co u rag i n g a s w e l l . Y ou ski ppe d h i g h s ch o o l t o st a rt c ol l e g e a n d a r e n ow i n your se n i o r y e a r . Ca n
you
tell
us
about
wh a t m a de you de ci d e t o jum p ri g h t i n t o t h a t , a n d on t h e wh ol e , h ow d o y o u
29
Y ouT ube
B u t I j u s t wan t t o k eep m o v i n g
c hanne l 5 ye a rs a g o, c ov-
fo rward an d I u s e t h o s e v i d e o s
er i ng p opul a r son g s a n d
t h at I cri n g e o v er as a l e s s o n .
h i g h s chool. I ha d rea lly nic e
shari ng
c re-
Ho p efu l l y t h at wi l l b e n e f i t m e
fri e n ds and was involve d with
ati ve w ork. W h a t or wh o
o v eral l m o re t h an j u s t d e l e t i n g
t o n s o f clubs and ha d ple nty of
i nspi r e d you t o do t h a t
i t wo u l d ! Hah a.
g o o d connections there, but I
then, a n d wh a t i n spi re s
h a t e d the atmos phere a nd the
you
i m m atur ity. I n ee de d some-
now?
th ink it h as a f fec ted you ? We l l ,
f ir s t
of
all,
I
hated
You
st a rt e d
to
a
your
ke e p
own
upda t i n g
It ’s h ard t o k eep t h e c h a n n e l u p d at ed d u ri n g t h e s ch o o l y e a r b ecau s e I’m s o b u s y. I t e n d t o
t h i n g diff er ent. I a lso knew a fa m i l y that had d one the sa me
We ll, I’l l ad m i t i t was al l b e-
d i s ap p ear ev ery s em e s t e r a n d
t h i n g I ’ m doing (le aving high
ca use o f Tay l o r S wi ft . I s aw
co m e b ack i n t h e s u mm e r. B u t
s c h o ol ear ly and starting col-
he r when I was 1 6 , s i n g i n g
t h i s s u m m er i s crazy a s w e l l ,
l e g e at 16) , and so that was
and pe rfo rm i n g wi t h h er g u i -
s o we’l l s ee.
d e fi n itely an influe nc e in my
ta r, and I t h o u g h t , m an , I can
d e c i sion. I thought, if the y c an
do that! I WANT t o d o t h at .
d o i t , I s ur e can!
And that ’s wh ere t h e Yo u t u b e
W i t h a l l t h e sc a nd a l i n
channe l s t em m ed fro m . I h ad
Hol l ywood a n d t h e e n-
O v e ra ll, I couldn ’t be ha ppie r
alwa ys lo v ed m u s i c, b u t t o m e,
t e rt a i n m e n t
w i t h m y choice. I missed out
Youtube was a way fo r m e t o
g e n e ra l , wh a t i s i t t h a t
o n a few high s chool memorie s
ma rket m y s el f t o a p ract i cal l y
you h ope G od wi l l u s e i n
l i k e pr om and walking to ge t
unlimite d au d i en ce. I’m s t i l l
your l i fe t o be n e fi t s o ci-
m y diploma, but I know that
small a n d g ro wi n g , b u t I h av e
e t y? H ow do you b a l a n ce
w h a t I f or es ee in my future is
le arne d s o m u ch j u s t ab o u t ed-
worki n g
b i g g er and gr eate r tha n those
iting and s i n g i n g o v eral l s i n ce
t ry a n d be i n g a Chr i s t i a n
t h i n gs . I f eel like it ha s a ffe ct-
starting t h e ch an n el . As fo r
i n a worl d t h a t t y p i ca l-
e d m e in a totally positive wa y.
original s o n g s , t h o s e cam e l at-
l y doe sn ’ t c a re for g o d l y
er be ca u s e I d i d n ’t real l y s t art
pursui t s?
in
i n dus t r y
the
in
indus-
I h a ve met s om e of the most
writing (an d l i k i n g ) m y s o n g s
a m a z ing people and ma de what
until a b o u t a y ear o r s o aft er
M y l i fe g o al ev ery s i n g l e d a y
I k n o w will be lif e-long frie nd-
I sta rted t h e ch an n el . I d o n ’t
i s t o b e a l i g h t . To p e o p l e I
s h i p s, and if I hadn’t ma de the
post e ve ry t h i n g I wri t e b ecau s e
p as s o n t h e s t reet , t o p e o p l e
d e c i sion to s tar t college e arly,
that wou l d b e S O m an y v i d eo s ,
I’v e j u s t m et , o r p eo p l e I ’ v e
I w o u ld never ha d lande d the
and I try t o s av e t h e b es t o n es
k n o wn fo r y ears . T h i s i s a t y p -
fri e n ds , exper ienc es, or even
for Yout u b e. T h at ’s n o t t o s ay
i cal “S u n d ay s ch o o l ” a n s w e r,
s t a g e r oles that I have. I a m so,
that there aren ’t s o m e v i d eo s
b u t I real l y wan t p e o p l e t o
s o t h ankf ul!
that I lo o k b ack o n an d t h i n k ,
l o o k at m e an d t h i n k, W h o a ,
oh gosh , I s h o u l d d el et e t h i s .
wh y i s s h e d i fferen t ? W h y i s s h e al way s s o h ap p y ? I w a n t t o PH OTO TAK E N BY C ATH ER I NE G R A CE
30
b e a role model for people. Do
but
the y
know
t h at
wh en
I fa i l ? Yes , ever y da y. B ec ause
they’re aro u n d m e, I wo n ’t
I’m h uman and I sin a nd I’m
join in!
fa r fr om per f ect. B ut I think
de cision I t h i n k ev ery p ers o n
1 . Go d i s i n co n t ro l .
t h a t as long as I h ave tha t goa l
ha s to mak e. As fo r co n t en t i n
2 . J u s t en j o y l i fe. S t o p s t r e s s-
i n m y head, I can kee p going
shows, I t h i n k t h at ev ery art
i n g . B e fearl es s . Do t h i n g s t h a t
a n d h opef ully to uc h someone
form ha s a cen t ral m es s ag e o r
s care y o u .
e n o u gh f or them to a sk why I
some thi n g t h at i t ’s t ry i n g t o
3 . P u t Go d fi rs t an d f o c u s o n
a m t h e w ay I am. And I ha ve
communi cat e. F o r m e, as l o n g
Hi m .
h a d a f ew people c omme nt on
as tha t m es s ag e i s s o m et h i n g
i t . I don’t do it so tha t people
that I a g ree wi t h , I h av e n o
Y ou’ ve be e n i n q u i t e a
g l o ri fy me; I ’ m ha ppy be ca use
proble m b ei n g i n t h at s h o w!
fe w pl a ys i n t h e pa s t f e w
forg e t ?
It ’s j u s t a co n s ci o u s
I h a v e pur e joy in the Lord. I
ye a rs. Out of a l l o f t h e
g e t s car ed and I ha ve doubts
Wher e do you se e your-
t h i n g s you’ ve don e , w h a t
a n d I exper ience e ve ry human
sel f i n t h re e ye a rs? D o
has
e m o t ion on the s pe ctrum, but I
you fe e l t h a t you h a ve
rol e a n d wh y?
g ro u nd m ys elf in God and tha t
your fut ure se c ure a n d
i s w hat helps me foc us and
k now e x a c t l y wh a t you’ re
T h e t wo t h at real l y s t an d o u t t o
k e e p s me dr iven.
doi ng , or a re you wa i t i n g
m e are In t o t h e Wo o d s , w h e n
to see wh e re H e ’ l l l e a d?
I p l ay ed t h e B ak er ’s Wi f e ,
(Or a mi x of t h e t wo?)
an d t h e s h o w I j u s t d i d , L a s t
A s for wor king in the industry I d o , I think it’s rea lly import-
be e n
your
favorite
Trai n t o Ni b ro c as M a y. Wi t h
a n t t o know who you should
De finite l y t h e s eco n d o n e. I
t h e B ak er ’s Wi fe, I fe l t l i k e I
a n d shouldn’t be ha nging out
ha ve a g en eral i d ea o f wh at
was h er. We were al i k e i n s o
w i t h . When I s ay that, I me an
I would l i k e t o d o , b u t as fo r
m an y way s an d I l o v e t h e m u-
t h a t i t would be rea lly e asy for
how I g et t h ere, t h at ’s al l u p
s i c i n t h at s h o w. S o n d h e i m i s
m e t o f ind a gr oup in a music al
to God. I’m a l o s t s h eep j u s t
b ri l l i an t . As fo r L as t Tr a i n , i t
I’m per f or ming in that drinks
going th ro u g h wh at I t h i n k are
was a t wo p ers o n s h ow, s o i t
a n d swear s becau se tha t’s the
the nec es s ary ro u n d s o f l i fe
was ex t rem el y ch al l en g i n g b e-
e a s y thing to do. We all sing,
and God wi l l t ak e o v er (an d i s
cau s e fo r o n e, t h ere w e r e o n l y
a c t , and dance. That’s enough
alre ady i n co n t ro l ) o f wh at ’s
t wo o f u s t h e wh o l e h o u r a n d a
fo r us to be f r ie nds, right? I
ne xt for m e i n t h e fu t u re!
h al f, an d t wo , M ay wa s n ’t e x-
d o n ’t think s o. O f course I will
31
t h a t you n e ve r w a n t t o
act l y l i k e m e. I h ad t o “ g r o w ”
a l w a ys be nice, a nd I would
If you we re a bl e t o vi s-
i n t o h er ch aract er. As r e h e a r s-
n e v e r be r ude or look down
it
fu-
al s an d ev en p erfo rm an c e w e e k
o n t hem, but I think there’s a
ture, pre se n t , wh a t t h re e
wen t o n , I s t art ed t o r e a l i z e
b o u n dar y you have to se t for
thi ng s
tell
t h at we d i d h av e a l o t o f s i m i-
y o u rs elf . Ever yo ne is diffe r-
yourse l f
wi sh
l ari t i es . L as t Trai n i s a s h o w I
e n t . I have f r iends that c uss,
you had kn own t h e n , or
you rse l f, woul d that
pa st , you you
w i l l never, ever forget.
your f a sh i on rol e m od-
“C h arm an d b eau t y a r e f l e e t-
el s and h ow do you t h i n k
i n g , b u t a wo m an w h o f e a r s
R e cen tly y o u star ted an
fashi on c a n re fl e c t J e -
t h e L o rd i s t o b e p ra i s e d . ” I t
in t e rn sh ip w it h the Mi s-
sus?
k eep s m e cen t ered i n m y f a i t h
s is s i p pi
Sy mphony
b ecau s e t h e wo rl d r e l i e s s o
Or -
ch e stra can you tel l u s
We ll, I d o n ’t k n o w i f I l o o k
m u ch o n o u t ward ap p e a r a n c e ,
a lit tle bit a bou t i t and
to any p art i cu l ar cel eb ri t y o r
b u t Go d k n o ws t h e h e a r t a n d
w ha t in sp ired you to tak e
some one i n fas h i o n . I t h i n k
He l o v es y o u fo r y o u !
th a t po sitio n ? What do
that fin d i n g y o u r o wn s en s e
y o u h o p e to l earn fr om
of fash i o n i s ex t rem el y i m-
F or
it?
portant. E v ery o n e s h o u l d wear
wa n t i n g
what mak es t h em feel b eau t i fu l
pe rform i n g
We l l , I s tar ted the internship
and c la s s y. E v ery o n e d es erv es
t h e re a n y words o f w i s -
b e c a us e of my degre e require-
to fee l p ret t y ev ery o n ce i n a
dom you woul d l i k e t o
m e n t s f or Ar ts Administra tion.
while. I l i k e t o h av e fu n wi t h
pa ss on ?
I n e e d to have two 90 hour in -
fa shion, b u t I al s o l i k e t o s t i ck
t e rn ships with an a rts orga ni-
to basi cs . Ho n es t l y, I wear
F i rs t o f al l , d o n ’t p u r s u e p e r-
z a t i o n. I have always enjoye d
what mak es m e feel co m fo rt-
fo rm i n g i f y o u d o n ’t L O V E
t h e sym phony s o I thought it
able a n d wh at I d eem ap p ro-
b ei n g o n s t ag e! T h a t ’s s t e p
w o u l d be nice to se e what hap-
pria te fo r wh erev er I’m g o i n g !
n u m b er o n e. I k n o w a l o t o f
p e n s b ehind the sce ne s! S o far,
I think t h at b al an ci n g t ren d s
p eo p l e wh o are p erfo r m e r s b u t
I’m
with
i m p o rt an t .
l i t eral l y h at e b ei n g on s t a g e .
w o rk ( ans wer ing the phone,
Also, wear wh at l o o k s b es t o n
T h at m ak es n o s en s e t o m e ! B e
s e l l i ng
organiz ing
YOUR bo d y t y p e. I k n o w t o o
h o n es t wi t h y o u rs el f, b u t d o n ’t
t h e mus ic libr ar y and storage
ma ny girl s t h at d res s i n cl o t h es
b e t o o h ard ei t h er! Kn o w w h a t
ro o m , and anything the y wish
be ca use t h ey l o o k g o o d o n t h e
y o u are g o o d at an d w h a t y o u
fo r me to do) . I ’ve only bee n
ma nnequ i n , b u t t h at ’s n o t al-
aren ’t an d wo rk HARD t o i m -
t h e re f or f our d ays a nd I’ve
wa ys th e cas e wi t h ev ery b o d y
p ro v e. E v ery d ay i s a l e a r n i n g
a l re a dy lear ned a ton, so my
type ! You h av e t o k n o w wh at
p ro ces s . T h ere i s al wa y s r o o m
h o p e is to keep le arning and
shapes lo o k g o o d o n y o u , n o t
fo r i m p ro v em en t . B e o p e n t o
g a i n i n g exper ience .
some one el s e.
n ew i d eas !
I f yo u s cro ll down your
What
is
your
Pin t e res t b o ar ds, anyone
pi ec e
of
sc ri pt ure
ca n see th a t you have an
why?
m os tly
doing
tickets ,
re ce ption
m o d es t y
is
the
youn g to
person
pursu e
the
a rt s ,
are
fa vori t e and
a ma z in g s en s e of fashi on th a t o o zes class and so -
This is al s o k i n d o f cl i ch e, b u t I
p h is ticatio n wi thout be -
re ally d o l o v e P ro v erb s 3 1 : 3 0 .
in g immo dest. Who are
32
“I ALONE CANNOT CHA
CAN CAST A STONE AC
CREATE MAN
- MOTHER
33
NGE THE WORLD, BUT I
CROSS THE WATERS TO
NY RIPPLES.”
R TERESA -
PH OTO TAK E N BY H AN N A H F O R S B E R G
34
35
A LIGHT ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING photos and words by olivia erickson
Th e h u m a n t r a fficking crisis is our ge ne r-
ne y involving sma ll things like r e p o r ts f o r
at i on ’s c u r r e n t favorite cause. In the la st c la sse s a nd de c or a ting ta ble s f or a w a r e n e s s s ev er a l y e a r s, hum an trafficking has c ome e ve nts, to big things like wor king w ith a t— t o l i g h t a s o n e of the greatest evils fa c ing r isk te e ns f or a job a nd looking wo me n in o u r w o r l d a n d has becom e a part of c om-
the e ye s a s the y te ll me the ir stor y o f th e
m o n k n o w l e d g e in a w ay that som e ha ve
hor r if ic a buse the y’ ve e nc ounte r e d in th e
com p a r e d t o t h e A ID S crisis in A fric a . I t’s na me of se x tr a ff ic king. Sma ll a c tio n s d o n e o n e o f t h o se subjects that everyone se e ms with pa ssion a r e the building bloc ks f o r a c t o k n o w e x i st s, but m ost people are just a c omplishing some thing powe r f ul. I b e lie v e b i t fu z z y o n w h a t it means and on w hat e a c h tha t if mor e a nd mor e young pe op le c o me p ers o n c a n d o t o fight it.
toge the r on the sma ll, e ve r yda y a c tio n s , we will ha ve the a bility to ma ke r e a l, lo n g
S i x y e a r s a g o , I had no idea that a sma ll te r m c ha nge . fu n d r a i si n g c a mpaign at my church would l ead t o d e d i c a t ing my life to w orking with
So wha t do you ne e d to know if you w a n t to
ant i — t r a ff i c k i ng efforts. It’s been a jour-
ge t involve d in f ighting huma n tr a ff ic k in g ?
36
SAY HELLO TO YOUR NEW BEST FRIEND GOOGLE. I o f t e n get asked how I got involve d with loc a l tr a ff ic king e ff or ts o r h o w I found m y current job wor king with tr ouble d te e ns a nd my a n sw er is G oogle. Start b y googling your c ity ( or la rge st ne a r by c i t y ) and key w ords. You will pr oba bly f ind se ve r a l ne ws a r tic le s a n d c an dig up some infor ma tion on wha t is going on in your own b a c k yard. A fter that, start looking f or nonpr of its doing some thing a b o u t it, for fellow activ ists hosting a wa r e ne ss e ve nts, or e ve n e m a i l reporters to get mor e inf or ma tion if you c a n f ind nothing e l se . D on’t be afraid to dig a bit, tr y diff e r e nt wor d c ombina tions, o r e mail complete strange r s. Pe ople in the nonpr of it c ommunity l o v e making new connections a nd plugging in mor e pe ople .
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START SMALL. It’s easy with a huge issue, such as 27 million modern day slaves, to feel powerless or that it’s something abstract and not relevant. However, with such a large and complicated issue, there are lots of small pieces that contribute and we need people making actions at every level. There are endless options—sponsoring a child in a third world country to provide prevention, running in a 5k to raise money for a nonprofit, or in your own city, working with homeless or other at risk populations. Here is a list from the U.S. Department of State that provides 20 options for things individuals can do. http://www.state.gov/j/tip/id/help/
INVEST
YOURSELF
WITHOUT
PROMI SE OF REWARD. If you wind up doing a lot of background things, you may be making a big impact but feel none of the glory. You may not get recognized and you may not feel like you are doing anything worthwhile—but take heart, it all adds up. This is a trendy issue right now and it’s easy to want to get involved for selfish reasons. Be careful and be aware, but also don’t let the fear of wrong motives keep you from doing the right things.
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GET ACQUAINTED WITH THE HUMANITY BEHIND IT ALL.
When I was seventeen, a woman came to our anti—trafficking group and told her story of being trafficked starting at seventeen. It humbled me realizing that the age I was when I went on my first date is the age another woman was when her body was sold for the first time. Realize that girls who are victims of sex trafficking are not just some aloof social issue—they are sisters and daughters and friends and mothers. They have a story and dreams and a voice. We like to talk about being a voice for the voiceless, but what if we just took the time to listen to those whose voices are being muffled? I like to say that my role is not to be their voice, but their megaphone. So listen. Read books of survivors like Rachel Lloyd’s Girls Like Us. Look beyond the stats to the story.
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PRAYER WORKS.
Over spring break, I went on a missions trip to Atlanta, Georgia, where we did a lot of different inner city ministries. On our last night, we packed a bus with college students, went to the area where the sex industry flourished, and all we did was pray. It was actually incredibly moving and powerful to bring the light of God to such a dark place by crying out to Him and declaring His truth. What is amazing is that the long term staff of the ministry we were with have seen almost 70 women rescued out of the sex trafficking life this year. There’s also a local church group in my home town that spends every single Sunday evening praying for human trafficking issues. While prayer does not feel as noble or heroic, it sets the groundwork for amazing things to come.
BE READY FOR YOUR HEART TO BE BROKEN AND YOUR LIFE TO BE RUINED. Ok, maybe that’s a tad dramatic, but not much. If you take the time to educate yourself and let your heart hurt at the evil in this world, if you start investing your time and money, and if you sign up to help in any way that you can—you can never go back to how you were before. It’s the sort of thing that changes you and wrecks you in the best possible way. In the end, to make a difference, no matter how small or large, is worth it and will leave you a different person
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Above all, remember that at the heart of it, we serve a God who loves justice and mercy. “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” – Micah 6:8
When you engage in fighting human trafficking, you are living out your role as a child of the King who hates evil and loves redemption. In the end, that is what’s left. Trendy issue or not, we serve a God who cares—and that means we should care, too.
If you want more information about education materials, nonprofits, or more ways to get involved, feel free to contact me at www.livfierce.wordpress.com.
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PH OTO TAK E N BY H AN N A H F O R S B E R G
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ROSE’S MOVIE by paul hastings
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“ Roses� is a short f ilm that centers aro und a yo ung wo man w ho has trag ically bee n blinded thro ugh a recent stro ke. All of her hop es, dream s, and aspiratio ns are destro yed when she loses her sig ht and she begins q uestio ning her purpo se in lif e. T hroug h a seemingly chance enco unter at a bus sto p, she m eets a strang er who carries a surprising secret o f his ow n. T og ether they m u st face the challenges o f their pasts so that they can em bra ce their futures and liv e beautifully.
44
A s a f ilmm aker , there’s only so much th at y o u can p rep are fo r ah ead o f t i m e, an d s o m e t i m e s t h i n gs that you’ ve rea died yourself for y ears an d y ears i n ad v an ce n ev er o ccu r. C o n v e r s e l y , t h i n gs that you kn ew we re impossible and wo u l d n ev er h ap p en , d o h ap p en . In fact , s o me s a y t h e o n l y thing you can pre dict a bout filmmak i n g i s t h at i t ’s u n p red i ct ab l e. Ta k e , f or exam ple, how I met the direc to r o f o u r m o v i e, Al ex L erm a. HOW W E G OT S T A RT ED It w a s the s umm er of 2008. He wa s 16. I was 1 8 . He h ad a cam era. I h ad s p are t i m e. B o t h o f u s w e re inter es ted in filmmaking, even thou g h n ei t h er o f u s h ad an y ex p eri en ce. B u t wh at w e l a c k e d i n e x per ience we ma de up for with restles s en erg y , v i v i d i m ag i n at i o n s , an d s u p p o rt i v e f a m i l i e s . F i ft e en m inutes afte r me eting Alex I a sked i f I co u l d m ak e a m o v i e wi t h h i m ; t wo m i n u t e s l a t e r h e a ccepted. F a s t for war d f ive yea rs later a nd we ha d s ev eral co m m erci al s an d co rp o rat e v i d eo s un d e r o u r b e l t s . A lex had worked on se ve ra l fea ture fi l m s i n d i fferen t crew p o s i t i o n s . We h ad al wa y s t o y e d a ro u nd with the ide a of making our own m o v i e, wi t h Al ex d i rect i n g an d m e p ro d u ci n g , b u t h a d n e v e r f ound the right story to tell. Th e n in J anuar y of 2013, God dumped the ri g h t s t o ry i n t o o u r l ap s wh en we were l eas t e x p e c t i n g i t . O ne of us heard a two minute illustrat i o n o n t h e rad i o at 2 AM i n t h e m o rn i n g an d r e a l i z e d t h a t we could br oa de n the ba ckstory and m ak e t h e ch aract ers m o re co m p el l i n g . T o t h is d a y w e d o n ’t know who the pastor on the radio was o r wh at s t at i o n h e was o n , b u t Go d u s ed th a t s t o r y t o s e r ve as the gene sis be hind our film. W e s p ent the next e ight months de ve lopin g t h e s t o ry an d l i t eral l y t o l d i t t o o v er 5 0 p eo p l e , w h o s o l i c ited their f eedbac k and thoughts befo re we ev er s t art ed fi l m i n g . F i n al l y , t h e m o m e n t c a m e a n d w e s hot the movie ove r four hec tic d ay s i n Oct o b er. (R em em b er, i t ’s a s h o rt fi l m . ) MIR ACLES A L ONG T H E W A Y Ti m e and time aga in we sa w God’s ha nd o f p ro v i s i o n o n t h e p ro j ect as He: P ro v ided s ever al thousa nd dolla rs throug h Ki ck s t art er v i rt u al l y at t h e l as t m o m en t (t al k a b o u t a t e st o f f aith! ) Bro u ght on Rache l Hendrix from “Octob er B ab y ” an d Greg o ry Al an Wi l l i am s fro m “R e m e m b e r t h e T itans ” to play our le ad roles.
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G a v e us a talented a nd e xperie nc ed c re w fro m al l acro s s Am eri ca, m an y as v o l u n t eers . Bl e ss ed us w ith an a ma zing bus right a ft er o u r o t h er o n e b ro k e d o wn t h e d ay b efo re w e b e g a n fi l m i ng. G ra n ted us access to film on sta te govern m en t p ro p ert y aft er we h ad b een rep eat ed l y re j e c t e d . Th e re ar e s o m any stories to te ll a bout ho w Go d b ro u g h t t h e wh o l e m o v i e t o g et h er… b ut I g u e s s y o u ’l l jus t have to buy a DVD to hea r them al l i n t h e s p eci al feat u res . W HA T ’ S L EFT ? A t t his point, we ’re in the final stages o f p o s t -p ro d u ct i o n an d j u s t n eed t o wrap u p t h e m u s i c a l s c o re, color cor r e ction, and the fina l sou n d d es i g n an d m as t eri n g . Al o n g t h e way we’v e s h o w n t h e rough cut to almost 100 pe ople a nd recei v ed feed b ack fro m al l k i n d s o f i n d i v i d u al s , i n c l u d i n g t h e c r eator s of “Adventure s in Odyssey”, “Han k t h e C o wd o g ”, an d “In d o ct ri Nat i o n ”. W e hope to complete the film in ea rly A u g u s t an d wi l l m ak e i t av ai l ab l e o n l i n e s h o rt l y t h e r e a ft e r. In the meantime, you c an do four thin g s t o s u p p o rt o u r fi l m : PR A Y. I know it ca n sound old but be liev e m e, p ray er i s effect i v e an d m ak es a d i ffere n c e . O u r G o d hear s us and is ple ased when we pray . P ray t h at we wo u l d h av e wi s d o m as we t ak e t h e l a s t fe w steps to f inish and re le ase the film. LI KE our Facebo ok page to sta y up-to-dat e wi t h o u r l at es t n ews an d b eh i n d -t h e-s cen es c o v e r a g e . J o i n o ur mailing list a t rosesmovie.com. Wh en we fi n i s h t h e fi l m an d p l ace i t o n l i n e, we ’ l l m a k e s u re to em ail everyone on the list. www. faceb o o k . co m / ro s es m o v i e C O NSIDER mak ing a dona tion to our p ro j ect . We’l l d o o u r b es t t o reward ev ery d o n at i o n w i t h t h e s a me r ewar d that was offered on Kick s t art er, wi t h i n reas o n . (It ’s t o o l at e t o b e an e x t r a i n t h e movie because we have finishe d film i n g , b u t we can s t i l l s en d y o u an au t o g rap h ed l i m i t e d e d i t i on D V D .) yo u ca n give here - www. ro s es m o v i e. co m / g i v e/ If y o u have ques tions a bout the movie , or j u s t wan t t o t al k ab o u t fi l m m ak i n g , t h en s h oo t m e a n e m a i l at paul@r osesmovie.com.
Y OU C A N WA T C H T H E TRAI L ER FO R RO SES HERE : ht tp s:/ / www. youtube.c om/wat c h?v= DSsM abJI CHE
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PAUL@ROSESMOVIE.COM WWW.ROSESMOVIE.COM WWW.ROSESMOVIE.COM/GIVE WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ROSESMOVIE
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PH OTO TAK E N BY H AN N A H F O R S B E R G
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HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT by noble nimmon s photos by hannah forsberg
49
A l l I wanted w as just wante d a nother re fi l l o f
t h at y o u b ri n g u p g reed at al l . ”
c o ffe e. Though the coffee itse lf ha d bee n b l ack , t h e re w as only a transparent, c re am c o l o red
I was al m o s t o u t o f p at i en ce as I l o o k e d a r o u n d
l a y e r lef t at the b ottom of the c up. The ill u s i o n
t o s ee i f t h ere was an y b o d y i n t h e c a f é w h o
o f t rans par ency, though the substa nc e i t s el f
wo u l d co m e an d fi l l m y cu p wi t h co ffe e a g a i n .
w a s not. The tab le on whic h the cup was s et
“Is i t real l y p ri d efu l o f m e t o o n l y h av e e n o u g h
w a s f ir m , yet also wa s a produc t of the ro o m .
t o g et b y ?” Ho w co u l d h e b e t el l i n g m e t h i s ? I
Ri d g es in the table surfac e se emed to refl ect
d earl y wan t ed t o k n o w an d h i s s l o w c a l m r e-
t h e many year s of abuse unde rgone by the café.
s p o n s e at e away at m y p at i en ce.
A n d though ther e were se ve ra l light bulbs b u rn t o u t i n the place, crea ting a n uneven light, I s t i l l
“No t u n l es s i t u n d erm i n es Go d ’s p l an f o r y o u . ”
c o u l d only f ocus my a ttention on my emp t y cu p . T h i s was t o o m u ch , s o I l au g h ed an d s a i d , “ O h , “ Yo u s till haven ’t re ally answered my q u es-
an d I s u p p o s e y o u m i g h t k n o w ex ac t l y w h a t
t i o n . ” The voice shifte d my a ttention fro m m y
t h at i s fo r m e?”
c u p t o my f r iend Ma rk, who sa t a cross fro m m e. “ H o w m uch do you want? ”
He m u s t h av e t h o u g h t i t j u s t as h u m o ro u s s i n c e h e al s o res p o n d ed wi t h a l au g h . “Of c o u r s e I
I e n j o yed his company, exce pt for the times h e
d o n ’t k n o w y o u r s p eci fi c cal l i n g o r w h a t h a v e
c o u l d s im ply not let go of minor details wh i ch
y o u . B u t I k n o w t h at o n e o f t h e fi rs t o f G o d ’s
h e c ons ider ed to be of grea t importance .
co m m an d s t o m an was t o h av e d o m i n i o n o v e r al l t h e eart h . ”
“ I a l ready told you,” I said, as I turne d m y at -
I was n o w t h o ro u g h l y co n fu s ed . I h a d s l o w l y
t e n t i on back to my cup in a nnoyance . “S i n ce
b ro u g h t m y g aze b ack t o ward s t h e m an w i t h t h e
y o u ar e talking about money, fa me , roc k an d
ri d d l es as I t ri ed t o co m e u p wi t h m y o w n . “ D o
ro l l , bas ically any thing unde r the sun, I hav e t o
y o u real l y t h i n k t h ere can b e an y m o d e s t y i n
s a y t h at I tr y my best not to be a gre edy m an i n
s o m et h i n g l i k e t h at ?”
t h e face of gr eat opportunity.” “Ah , s o m o d es t y i s t h e m ean s b y wh i c h y o u “ My f r iend,” he responded a s he lea ne d fo r-
d i s g u i s e y o u r p ri d e. ”
w a rd , “I as s ur e you this ha s nothing to d o wi t h g re e d, and it worrie s me tha t you bring i t u p . ”
I u n wi l l i n g l y s t o p p ed l au g h i n g as I rea l i z e d h e h ad a p o i n t . “B u t I h av e n o l o v e fo r t h e t h i n g s
I m a intained my he ad tilte d down toward m y
o f t h i s eart h . T h e B i b l e t al k s o f t h e l o v e o f
c u p . H ow ever, I c ouldn’t he lp but lift m y ey es
m o n ey b ei n g t h e ro o t o f al l ev i l . ”
a n d rais e a br ow as to prompt Ma rk to ex p l ai n h i m self .
A d eep s m i l e g rew acro s s M ark ’s fa c e a s h e co u l d s ee I was b eg i n n i n g t o u n d ers t an d. “ R i g h t
M a rk continued, “It is bec ause of your p ri d e
y o u are, m y fri en d !” h e ex cl ai m ed . “T h e l o v e
50
o f t h is wor ld is a sin, but the mere de s i re fo r
wh at He h ad g i v en m e was ex act l y h o w I w a s
m o re is a God- give n attribute.”
t o at t ai n m o re. As t h es e t h o u g h t s wen t t h r o u g h m y m i n d I n o t i ced t h at m y cu p was n o w f u l l .
A l t h o ugh I w asn’t thoroughly convinced , I
A cream co l o red co ffee wi t h a s weet sm e l l h a d
t h o u g ht I could begin to see what he wa s tal k i n g
m ad e i t s way t o m y cu p wi t h o u t m y n ot i c i n g i t .
a b o u t. “I s it like that verse tha t talks a bou t Go d n o t giving you a te mpta tion tha t’s grea te r t h an
I t o o k a s i p an d l o o k ed u p at M ark as h e a s k e d ,
w h a t you ar e able to ha ndle ?”
“Yo u s t i l l h av en ’t real l y an s wered my q u e stion.”
M a rk couldn’t hold bac k his de light in my u nd e rst anding as he lea ne d himself ba ck in t o h i s
I s m i l ed as I l o o k ed b ack at t h e fu l l cu p . I f o u n d
c h a i r. “You ar e e xa ctly right.” His smil e was
m y s el f at t h e b eg i n n i n g ag ai n , b u t n o w w i t h a
o f a deep appr ov al and satisfa ction. “Yo u wi l l
g reat er u n d ers t an d i n g o f t h e q u es t i o n Ma r k h a d
n o t be given more dominion than is goo d fo r
p res en t ed m e.
y o u . Your f ocus on God and what He ha s g i v en y o u will deter mine what you will be c apab l e o f h a v i ng.” I c o u ldn’t believe I a ctua lly unde rstood wh at M a rk was talking a bout and it a lmost felt l i b era t i n g . “So I s hou ld foc us on what I have b een g i v e n ins tead of what I lac k be ca use t h at i s w h e re f ulf illment and growth take plac e. ” “ R i g ht again! A n d now that you mention i t , t h e fi rs t temptation wa s just tha t. The se rpen t foc u s e d Eve’s attention on wha t she did not h av e a n d all tem ptatio ns the re afte r we re a fo cu s o n w h a t people lack ed.” Wi t h this under s tanding, I ha d some thin g n ew t o fo cus m y atten tion on. My e ntire e xis t en ce h a d been one of trying to rea ch some t h i n g I h a d not been given. W ha t I ha d be en given was e n o u gh and all I nee de d. Onc e I ma stered an d b e c a me s atis f ied with wha t I ha d be en g i v en , m o re was cer tain to come if God sa w i t fi t . D e sp ite my idea of mode sty, I rea lly did wan t m o re . Focus ing my thoughts toward God an d
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“H OW MUCH D O YOU WA NT ? ”
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5 WAYS TO JUMPSTART CREATIVITY w or ds by je ssic a ra ckl ey p h o t o s b y h a nna h f o rs b erg
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... H u m a ns . We’ r e sculpte d by an all-know i n g P o t t er’s h an d s , m o l d ed i n t h e i m ag e o f t h e O n e W h o cr eated everything, from our univer s e fu l l o f s t ars d o wn t o t h e t i n i es t o f i n s ect s . H i s w o r k s h o w s f lawles s attention to de ta il a nd a n ap p reci at i o n fo r b eau t y . Wh en He m ad e u s v ess e l s , H e b re a t hed not only life but His own c ha ra ct er i n t o u s , an d i n t h at b reat h He wh i s p ered , “ L e a r n , m a k e, do.” The ability to crea te is chisel ed i n t o o u r DNA. Wh et h er t h ro u g h wri t i n g , pa i n t i n g , i n v e nting or any othe r medium, we ye ar n t o m ak e s o m et h i n g fro m n o t h i n g , an d i n d o i ng s o w e e m u l ate the des ires of our he avenly Fa ther. Bu t t h er e comes a time whe n every artis t ’s wo rs t en em y rears i t s u g l y h ead — t h e ru t . W e ’ v e a l l b e e n ther e. One da y your hands are flyin g away at t h e k ey b o ard , an d t h e n ex t y o u ca n ’ t t h i n k o f a single wor d to put down. P aintbrush es are l ai d as i d e, wren ch es an d b l u ep ri n t s co l l e c t d u s t . In s p i r ation can f lee for a ny length of tim e fro m a few d ay s t o a few m o n t h s , l eav i n g y o u f e e l i n g h o l l ow and num b. Re c e ntly I went through tha t familia r ph as e o f b ei n g u n ab l e t o creat e, b u t I fo u n d a fe w t h i n g s t h a t helped me overcome it. Here is my l i s t o f ru l es t o fo l l o w wh en fi g h t i n g o ff t h at h o r r i b l e fe e l i n g of ‘ U ninspira tion’:
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1. CHANGE YOUR ENVIRONMENT. S t o p and think f or a minute: when wa s th e l as t t i m e y o u l eft t h e h o u s e? Hav e y o u b een s u r r o u n de d b y the s am e w alls for more tha n a fe w d ay s , l i s t en i n g t o t h e s am e s o u n d s ? A ch an g e i n s c e n e r y c o u l d be all you n ee d to ge t your imaginat i o n g o i n g . T ak e a b reak fro m t h e co m p u t er and g o f o r a w a l k. Sit quietly outside for a while . H ead o v er t o y o u r l o cal p ark o r co ffee s h o p , an d s o a k i n t h e fr es hnes s of what’s going on around y o u . T h en t ry ex p res s i n g i t i n y o u r wo rk !
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2. CHANGE YOUR ROUTINE. O ft e n w hen w e f eel sluggish physic ally, i t l eak s i n t o h o w we p erfo rm m en t al l y . If al l yo u w a n t t o d o is s it on the couc h a nd wa tc h TV, y o u r b es t b et i s t o t u rn o ff t h e T V an d d o s o m e j u m p i n g j a c k s. Do the opposite of wha t you fe el l i k e d o i n g . T ry u s i n g an art i s t i c m ed i u m y o u ’ v e n e v e r u se d bef or e ( if y ou’re a writer it could b e d rawi n g , i f y o u ’re a m u s i ci an i t co u l d b e p h o t o g r ap h y ). By changing things up, you might j u s t t ri ck t h e wh eel s i n t h e ri g h t s i d e o f y o u r br a i n i n t o t u rn i n g again.
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3. LEARN TO PAY ATTENTION. Th e bes t cr eative s a re those who pa y c los e at t en t i o n t o t h ei r s u rro u n d i n g s , an d are ab l e to c l e a r l y e m u l ate w hat their se nses e xperie nc e thro u g h t h ei r ch o s en m ed i u m . I k n o w i t m ay b e d i f f i c u l t t o sh a r pen your se nses when you’re stuc k i n a fo g g y ru t , b u t t h i s p art i cu l ar s t ep i s s o m e t h i n g t h a t you can pr ac tice every da y. Like a m u s cl e, y o u s h o u l d s t ret ch an d ex erci s e i t co n s ta n t l y b y a sk i n g your s elf : W ha t do I see ? What do I h ear? Wh at d o I feel ? [S i d e-t i p : al way s k eep a n o t eb o o k near by. You never know when insp i rat i o n wi l l s t ri k e, an d y o u d o n ’t wan t t o m i s s i t w h e n it does!]
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4. THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX. W h e n you’ r e f eeling c re atively stumped, t h i n k i n g o u t s i d e t h e b o x i s o n e o f t h e h ard es t t h i n g s t o d o . T hat’ s w hy I like to ma ke a kind of g am e o f i t — ch al l en g e m y s el f t o t h i n k o f t h e m o s t r a d ic a l , i ns ane, w eir d, craz y ide a, and use it as a s p ri n g b o ard t o ward g et t i n g m y i m ag i n at i o n b a c k o n t ra c k . I t could be a nything from writing d o wn t h e d ream y o u h ad l as t n i g h t t o d rawi n g s om e t h i n g w i t h the dif f er ent condiments in your frid g e. If y o u’ r e having too much trouble thinki n g o f s o m et h i n g y o u rs el f, h o p o n P i n t eres t (j u s t f o r a fe w minutes ! ) an d scroll through their pro j ect s s ect i o n . T h ere’s n o t h i n g wro n g wi t h be i n g i ns p i re d by the w ork of othe rs.
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5. IF ALL ELSE FAILS, STRENGTHEN YOUR RESOLVE.
... O ft e n w hat w e mista ke for a la ck of inspi rat i o n i s act u al l y a l ack o f m o t i v at i o n t o s i t d o w n a n d m a k e an ef f or t. T he Gree k philosopher E p i ct et u s s ai d , “If y o u wan t t o b e a wri t er, wri t e . ” T h e sa m e is tr ue f or every othe r crea tive medi u m . S o m et i m es al l i t t ak es t o creat e s o m et h i n g f a n t a s t i c i s h a v ing the r es olve to sit down a nd wor k , ev en i f i t m ean s d o i n g s o wi t h o u t t h at l i g h t n i n g b o l t o f i n s pir ation. So instea d of worrying a b o u t t h e fact t h at y o u d o n ’t k n o w wh at t o d o , D O . Y o u m i g h t tr igger an idea you wouldn’t have t h o u g h t o f wh i l e y o u were j u s t wai t i n g fo r i t t o h a p p e n . D o n ’t be dis cour aged if these tips don’t p u l l y o u o u t o f y o u r ru t ri g h t away . R em em b e r , w e ’ r e m a d e in the imag e of the ultima te C rea tor— Hi s i n g en u i t y i s wo v en i n t o o u r v ery b ei n g . N o m a tt e r h ow f ar gone it may se em, inspira tion al way s ret u rn s i n o n e fo rm o r an o t h er. B e p at ie n t , g i v e i t t i me to come n aturally, and try ne w th i n g s wh i l e y o u wai t !
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