Puzzle pieces that fit

As we walked up to the El Prado in historic North Hollywood, CA, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the footsteps I would walk in on this day, the opening day of the Caribbean Lens Film Festival - the first such festival in Los Angeles where film is king. The realization that one of our films had been chosen for this historic event bowled me

over. 

It wasn't that it was a film festival - we had been to many of those before. It wasn't even that it was Hollywood. Other Jamaican films have been there before. I think it was the sense that God had set this up and had paved the way for a Jamaican faith-based film to screen at the very first Caribbean festival of films ever held in the land of films. Yea that's what it was! It was knowing that the funds to make the trip, the home we stayed in, car we were driving was all supplied through faith.

Kat & Karen Kramer
with Michael Brown

As I sat and listened to Karen Kramer, wife of acclaimed producer Steven Kramer of Guess Who's Coming to Dinner fame (and 31 other films), the significance of the moment became clearer. Here was a woman who inspired me. A woman whose husband defied convention by putting a black actor as his lead in a film that was controversial at least, who managed to hide that fact until it was financed and then gave up his salary and others when the studio found out and decided to cancel the production and went on to make a smash hit despite threats and odds. She spoke passionately about how much he believed in what he was doing, how much she believed in him and the social changes his movies precipitated. I was inspired to say the least.

I looked at my husband sitting next to me and thought about the passion we have for the faith based films we make. How much we believe in what we are doing and how much more passion and belief we will need to continue on our mission and complete the journey. How much we desire to change lives with our work. With three more films on paper to produce over the next three years, the task seemed daunting until now. 

There is something about passion and following that passion through the lows to the highs, through the debts and the gains and then passing out of this world having made it just that much better because you were here. There is something so rewarding and precious about making a difference. 

Follow your passion. Change a life. Save a soul. Make a difference. It's what I hope I will have done in the end. Selah!

AFRICA CHANNEL REPORT ON CARIBBEAN LENS FILM FESTIVAL, HOLLYWOOD

The Bathroom Fan Chronicles - Exchanging pain for persistence

The bathroom fan in the adjoining apartment makes a racket every single striking morning! A loud noise like a weed wacker reverberates through my bedroom jolting me awake. Its annoying and quite inconsiderate. My husband has complained in his usual fashion - very politely, with tons of decorum and a smile. Me, I've had enough. I've decided it's time to bring out the other side of me. I got on my computer and wrote a less than calm complaint to the management of the complex. I hit send. There is no coming back. Am I feeling any better? Nope. In fact I'm just as riled up and planning to march into their office at 9am.

Breathe...Judi...breathe. It's time to follow your own advice!

I have just finally completed my book of Monday Morning Meditations and am ready to send it to the printers. It's the first from my Exchanging Pain for Praise series and the official start of my speaking career. Official because I have been an inspirational speaker for a long time. (Yes I speak and am now officially available for your next women's, youth or other conference, meeting or service.)

Within the pages of this book of meditations and activities is a section about persistence. It's directed at those of us who give up too quickly. And yes, in many ways that describes me. I have always had a problem with persistence and I am sure that I have lost out on great opportunities because I gave up just a little too soon. My lack of a college degree immediately springs to mind. Hated college! Thought all the extraneous stuff I had to learn was unnecessary and my choices were lose my mind or leave and be happy. I left and suffered for it.

Jacob of the Bible was far more successful because of his persistence. Imagine what I could have

become with a bit more persistence! Perhaps you too could have been much more with a bit more persistence.

Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” – Genesis 32:26

We could learn a valuable lesson from Jacob whose persistence won him the blessing he sought even though he had done so many other deceptive things. The same Jacob who had cheated his brother Esau out of his birthright and tricked his father Isaac into blessing him, wrestled with the angel all night until dawn. Perhaps at 4am he thought to himself “I’ve been fighting all night and I’m tired. I’ll never get the blessing so I may as well give up and go to sleep. The angel has won!” But he fought his way through doubt and fear and held on until dawn. He went away limping, but victorious.

God is the God of midnight. In fact, I like to tell people that he is an 11:59 God. Just one stroke before midnight, He may show up. Just when it seems that all is lost, God can make a way out of no way. You simply must be persistent and push through to the end.

Which woman, upon hearing the doctor say “Push, one last time!” says “I don’t think I’ll push anymore doc; I changed my mind and decided not to have this baby after all.” For her baby to be born and for the after birth to be expelled the mother must push through to the final moment.

Today I will follow the example of Jacob. I will wrestle with the management company until they fix the bathroom fan. Perhaps there is a lesson here for you too. Perhaps there is something you too need to wrestle with, follow through on, push past frustration to reach. If the prize is worth the fight - Push on through!!!

Selah

When Purpose Defeats Pain

Nomads walking a highly favored path

Visiting the manatees in Crystal Springs, FL

I'm on the move again! Aye! I guess some were born to settle in one place and others, like me, to keep moving until the work is done. This is what happens when you surrender your life to the designs of a power higher than yourself. When you let God be God and direct your path. He pushes you beyond your limits, ever climbing higher and higher, achieving more and more, getting tireder and tireder. 

In these times I hold on tightly to the Bible verse that tells me that if I wait (serve) on the Lord, he will renew my strength and that I will mount up on wings like eagles. The past few weeks have been nothing if not totally draining,emotionally, physically and spiritually. There have been days I have wanted to simply lie down and mek Johncrow pick mi bones. Two nights ago I couldn't walk. Literally. I mean I couldn't even put my feet on the ground and attempt to walk. I had to be wheeled around in a chair like an invalid. Yet today, I'm standing again.

contemplating life in Old Harbour

That same verse tells me that I will run and not be weary; I will walk and not faint. Old folks used to tell me that tired is not the same as weary. I never understood until now that I am so much closer to being one of them. The old folks that is. Weary transcends tired. It's a point of being overwhelmed with tiredness, frustrated with unfulfilled dreams and giving up. Actually, it's the point at which one does lay down and mek Johncrow pick dem bones. Weary is a place of hopelessness. I haven't arrived at weary. My strength is being renewed as I continue to serve God and my fellow man.

As I write, my mind drifts back to a conversation my husband and I had a couple nights ago as he massaged my hurting feet. We talked about the chain of events that brought us together, tore us away from Florida and back to Jamaica, walked us through the doors of Jamaica Youth for Christ, moved us from place to place in Jamaica, introduced us to Church on the Rock, Ocho Rios and now is taking us to Hollywood with our second faith-based film, The Gift Everlasting. And that is Hollywood California if you please.

Waiting for sunset on Florida's West Coast

If you had even suggested that I would have been a film maker with an award-wining film and one heading to a screening in the land of film making, Hollywood, I would have looked at you cast-eyed and upside down. I am a writer, not a film maker. But that is what I say. What God says is something completely different.

God's purpose for me has always been and will continue to be so much greater than anything I could imagine or even deal with. So He has unfolded it a little at a time. There has been some hardship along the way but the joy of the outcomes is exciting and well worth the trust. I don't ever want to be led any other way ever again. This is an exciting road He has placed me on. Filled with loving family, wonderful friends and spectacular sunsets. I will enjoy each day and leave the directing up to Him.

No pain can dull my purpose. No pain will kill my praise! Selah

Exchange Pain for Plucky

Lord grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. - The Serenity Prayer

This single prayer changed my life. Learning to simply accept the circumstances and things over which I have no control has helped me to understand that I am but one part of a greater universal plan. 

There are many things I cannot control that used to control me. A delayed flight which left me stuck in an airport for countless hours used to frustrate me. Like so many others, I’d get bent out of shape, constantly nagging the airline staff for updates and pacing the floor of the departure lounge as if my doing so would change the outcome of my delayed flight.  Instead, the only outcome I succeeded in changing was the outcome of my day.

Finding the courage to change the things I can has empowered me to speak up for myself when I am being wronged; to walk away from danger or temptation and to admit mistakes while taking corrective measures. 

Courage doesn't come easily – it takes practice.  Lots of practice. 

The first time you stand up to your fears or your nemesis you may not like the experience; but if you push through the nausea and discomfort you will find yourself stronger and more courageous the second time around. The more you face that giant, is the smaller the giant becomes. The more seasoned a warrior is, the less likely he is to be killed in the battle.

Some battles are not worth fighting – leave them on the battlefield. Some battles cannot be won – walk away. Some battles require intense warfare – fight. Having the wisdom to know the difference between those things you can and cannot change helps you to make your fighting decisions. 

• You cannot change people. You can only change yourself. They have to want to change themselves and effect that chaunge.
• You cannot change the weather. You can only change your attitude towards the weather.
• You cannot change the color of your skin (no matter how many times you tan or bleach it). You can only change the way you feel about the color of your skin.
• You cannot change your past. You can only change your future.

The Lion went to find the Wizard of Oz to get courage. In his search for the Wizard he found that courage was within him all along and the Wizard was a washed-up half-crazy dude. There is courage within you. Dig deep. Change the things you can change and use wisdom deal with those you cannot change. Peace lives in the midst.

Blessings!

Judi

Exchanging Pain for Praise: Praise in a Pain-filled World

Exchanging Pain for Praise: Praise in a Pain-filled World: The news keeps me up at night. Mayhem, Murder, Madness. It seems the world is in a tail spin with no possible way to correct it in sight. Ye...

Praise in a Pain-filled World

The news keeps me up at night. Mayhem, Murder, Madness. It seems the world is in a tail spin with no possible way to correct it in sight. Yet I am reminded that in the midst of it all there is reason to be thankful and give praise. I have learned to find joy in simple pleasures such as the remarkable sunsets on Florida's West Coast, totally uninhibited as I watch from a bridge over the Peace River. It is beautiful and different each evening.

To add to my joy, I stumble upon some pictures, 8 years old now, of my grandson's second birthday party and I think of how blessed I am to be a part of such a wonderful child's life, How thankful I am to have been chosen to bear children, to see them grow into successful, productive people and see the continuation of life through them.

My mom transitioned back to the creator four weeks ago, and even in the midst of grieving I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support not only between family members, and I am a part of an awesome family, but from friends near and very far.

There is much to grieve, but so much more to be thankful for when I take time to see the blessings all around me and give God praise with a grateful heart.

Be blessed.

Judi
www.jfalloon-reid.com
www.facebook.com/JudiTheWriter
Ask me about my Exchanging Pain for Praise Workshop 
for your next Retreat or church conference