Faith or Fame of Faith?

I am who I am because of my faith in God. I was no different than most children that functioned around me during my childhood days. I went to school. I played sports. I hung out with friends. And I'm sure I had some rebellious moments and acts of naivety.  However, something, rather someone kept me from following everyone around me. I was using faith that I shouldn't follow after some of the people and ways that made me feel this weird fear inside as if it was wrong for ME to partake.

Often, I would sit on the porch by myself and look all around me. West Virginia mountains surrounded me on all sides. I would look to one side and say, "I bet Hollywood is over that mountain", "I bet New York is over that one other there..". I would daydream of crossing these large mountains somehow, wondering if I would be like the others around me, and stay there in WV forever (not saying there is nothing wrong with that). I will address that another day.

But, it would be after encountering God that my faith would be born. On the next opportunity to set on the same porch, is when I would take a step of faith that would bring me before you today...from California.

My faith would be challenged and grown in the years to come from that step. And I will address those journeys in time.

Today, I wish to expound on how after leaving home at 18 on this journey, that I have suffered much to be able to type before you today, that faith in God is real. He IS who He says HE is, and DOES what HE says HE will do. For truly, my own knowledge, awareness, strength was never enough. I would have quit this road long ago.

I could go into many directions from this point. But I promised to be concise. My faith in God while in Hollywood has skyrocketed as well as run deeply rooted in Him. To arrive here with a limited sight of where to turn, next to no money, lack of food, hit rock bottom enough times to where I can show you the map there, almost die in the hospital last year, debt rise so high in a matter of days that I couldn't see the top...my faith in HIM has held me together.

However, in Hollywood, many of every walk of life make "faith" famous, but are truly not living in a faith that is grounded beyond themselves. I found it to not be true only here, but looked at those that I have grew among over the time of life. Many shout the word and words of faith onto the walls of Facebook and the walls of their life. Walls that are the shell of who they are and hand-built, but not of whom God has desired of them to be through true faith in Him.

I have personally encountered the issue myself where I would proclaim a walk of faith into a decision or stage of life, but still forcing my way through and straining to see what is going on, which way to go. Yet, I have not looked to use "faith" as a means of excuse to why things are as poor as they are, struggles, and unhappy at times. Life is life. Things happen both good and seemingly bad. But, I have used the rough times as they were ought to be used--tools to build the purpose in me.

In closing, I realize this blog may not be what I hope. I wish to close with this thought then. Faith, gives sight. If one is living faith, they are never lost in life, but lost in Him and His grace and love. If one is proclaiming faith, and yet moving through life's decisions blindly and crossing their fingers, hoping that they can make do with what they see. Faith without substance is truly dead faith. They are just making the idea of "faith" more famous.

Hollow in Hollywood

It's sad, but I have wanted to begin this blog since I have arrived in L.A. near 3 years ago. Amazing it is, that it has been near 3 years in which this journey into the unknown has been under way, turning my life inside out-upside-down.

My desire is to recap some of my life moments while building this blog as well as a vlog, updating many on what life has been like and is, here in Hollywood/L.A.

I'm not 100% sure how it will all unravel, but my hope is to be concise and effective at painting the picture of my life, this journey, Hollywood, and the God within them all.

Today, I thought I would begin from the point of rest that I took in the wilderness. However, I will begin with the following photo to give a glimpse of what L.A. has seemed to be for me and many here.

It's a photo that I took today.

Take a good look at this photo. It may be tough to tell from this angle, but I wanted to be respectful and not grab their faces as much as possible.

But in this photo is a man and a young girl with her backpack. A father and his daughter. A daughter that has to go to school, and a father that is willing to do "whatever it takes" to get his daughter to school on time.

My heart throbs as I even type these words and glancing often into this photo, reliving the moment. The air was chilly for L.A. It chilled me from walking so, I can't imagine how it felt for this man riding the bike. I could see in his eyes that time was ticking-there was a deadline. It was also in his sway of the bike that it was  something he has done over, and over, and over. There was not indentation of a smile. Only the look of  a wish that he had a car instead. A wish to be in a better position in the midst of the traffic of "Hollywood-life". I felt what he was feeling more time's than I'd like to remember, but always remembering who was with me during those times.

 This moment for me symbolized the life here in L.A. that many live indeed. The circumstances, are facts. The facts are nothing but excuses, when the need HAS to be met.

The father, very well may not have a car, nor enough money to put her on the bus as others. But, despite the circumstances, he put his body through the long toil on this bike, to carry his daughter to school.

The daughter, a smile gleams upon her face as he races over the bumpy sidewalk. In her mind this is not major task for her father. In her eyes she sees nothing but him doing something he is ought to do. She is oblivious to the fullness of this act of love, but knows for certain--he loves her. (A message for a later time)

Friends, this is my world. Hollywood is more than what meets the eye. It is a hurricane and a flood. It is darkness and light. It is tears of pain and of joy.  The word "hard" is the weakest word in the dictionary to use to describe life here for all. And if one is NOT grounded in who they are truly designed to be, within 24 hours, one is lost--sadly for some it's forever.

I know that many may have opinions. And I am open to hear them. I know that many could argue and say "it's not that bad for me" or "I love it here, no problems for me". But, those that believe they are living it good are the majority that don't realize they have many pieces missing. But, this blog/vlog is nothing more but a platform for me to share and you can ask questions by in-boxing me.

I promise you, that I will not bring before you merely the grime of this city, but I will also not bring up the glory of man nor myself. I will reveal a truth, THE TRUTH, of the importance of being Hollow in Hollywood, among the HOLLOW that live in Hollywood.

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