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Mastering Business Fundamentals
Mastering Business Fundamentals
Class Description
In their previous course, award-winning husband-and-wife photographer duo Sal and Taylor Cincotta revealed their blueprint for running a successful portrait and wedding studio. Now, Sal and Taylor are back to teach you how to take your photography business from fledgling to booming.
During this 3-day course, you'll learn how to scale your staffing, provide unparalleled customer service, price your products effectively, and create a powerful brand from your personal style.
Whether you're a beginner, intermediate, or advanced photographer, this course will provide a provide an accessible playbook for taking your business to the next level.
Lessons1Class Introduction 2Establishing Goals 3Establishing Goals: Advice for Beginners 4Establishing Goals: Advice for Intermediates 5Establishing Goals: Advice for Established Businesses 6Specialist vs. Generalist 7Pricing & Packaging 8Shooting to Sell: Big Prints, Albums & Products 9Pricing: The Digital Negative Controversy 10The Evolution of SCP's Pricing 11Student Q&A 12Defining Your Style: Consistency is Key 13Defining Your Style: Advice for Newbies 14Defining Your Style: Advice for Intermediate Studios 15Defining Your Style: Advice for Established Studios 16Next Level: Medium Format 17Branding 18Next Level Products 19Marketing: The Other Half of Your Style 20Marketing for the Newbie Studio 21Marketing for the Intermediate Studio 22Marketing for the Established Studio 23Networking: Who, What, When, Where and Why 24Customer Service 25Best Practices: Seniors & Families 26Best Practices: Babies, Glamour, Engagement & Wedding 27Best Practices: Backing Up and Equipment 28Best Practices: Sales 29Best Practices: Post Production 30Training Plan 31Husband and Wife Teams 32Husband & Wife Teams: Stories from Facebook 33Insourcing vs. Outsourcing 34Business Types 35Building Confidence
How is this just $99? I would of definitely payed at least twice as much!!! Half way though the course and this information is more than what the price is worth. Thank You sal, We love your great energy and amazing information.


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Ready for odd-even if pollution 'severe plus': Delhi Transport Minister
Delhi air deteriorates: Primary schools shut till Sunday, govt may bring back odd-even
Delhi air severe: Medical body declares health emergency, says schools should remain shut
Odd-even may return as air quality worsens: Delhi minister
Delhi chokes as air pollution worsens, Twitter users slam govt over inaction
The odd-even car rationing scheme will be rolled out in Delhi for five days from November 13 as part of a graded response plan to tackle the alarming pollution situation in the city, the state government announced today. The scheme will be in place from 8 am to 8 pm and there will exemptions for women drivers and two-wheelers, Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot said. "The exemptions will be similar as last year and there is no need for people to panic," he told reporters. The minister also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to call a meeting of chief ministers of Delhi and adjoining states to find a solution to the crisis. The Delhi government has directed DTC to hire 500 buses from private contractors to tackle the rush of commuters during the odd-even implementation week. "Delhi Metro has also promised to provide 100 small buses during the period. Schools will be free to provide their buses voluntarily.
However, there will be no compulsion," Gahlot said. CNG vehicles will be exempt but will need to have stickers in place. These will be available at 22 IGL stations across Delhi from 2 pm tomorrow. "The old stickers which were issued in the last edition of odd-even will be valid too," the minister said. Under the policy, private vehicles are allowed to run based on the last number of their licence plates. Odd-numbered cars are allowed to run on odd dates while even-numbered cars can only run on even dates. In 2016, the scheme was enforced twice -- January 1-15 and April 15-30.
Click here to read a detailed report about how the odd-even policy panned out last year.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Hey Hustlers Happy New Year Hustlers December 31, 2014 Keedie's Corner Leave a comment While we embark on a new year let's not forget the 2014 events, let these acts of injustice bring about the movement towards unity and self awareness. We have to be the change we want to see. Be blessed and be easy. -Keedie Advertisements Share this:PinterestTwitterTumblrLinkedInFacebookGoogleInstgramLike this:Like Loading... Related


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Tan Low Heel Ankle Boots
The perfect wardrobe staple, this versatile ankle boot will instantly update your casual wardrobe ready for the new season. With its rounded toe, chunky low heel and slip-on design, it provides ultimate comfort in a boot that will keep you warm whatever the weather throws at you. And while it achieves great wearability, this boot certainly doesn't skimp on style. Combining high-shine and matt-effect textures, there's plenty of interest within this boot while the crossover buckle detailing adds a smart finish. With its simple silhouette, Stirrup is the latest must-have boot from Carvela which will add an instant update to all your favourite outfits.


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Denmark WA Holiday Information & Accommodation Guide
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This site contains links to other sites. Denmark Tourist Bureau is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of websites to which we link.


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The song kept coming and by morning I had a chorus and 3 verses to a song I named WINGS OF EAGLES. It was the 3 little lessons that the Lord had taught me that brought me out of major depression. So simple...yet so powerful.
I wrote the song down and prayed, "Lord will I one day be able to sing this and tell people there is nothing too hard for You to bring them through?" I felt a very strong "YES" in my spirit that I would. I had never before sang in front of people or knew if I could sing anything anyone would want to listen to. But I had a strong desire to testify to the Lord's faithfulness. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
That was the promise God gave me--that my own sorrows and trials were to be for the comfort of others one day.
6 yrs. later...after many more trials and heartaches, I had written more songs about the lessons the Lord was giving me on my journey with Him. Finally the Lord orchestrated events so that I was singing in front of church and someone was led to teach me guitar, and there I was ... my dream was happening. I was sharing God's victory through song.
I have many songs now that the Lord, I believe gave me the grace to write, that have brought comfort to me to sing, and I have been told minister to those who are going through trials or depressed. I've been referred to as a psalmist.
They are songs that I hope will encourage, uplift, and strengthen you in some small way in your walk with Jesus.
These songs were finally recorded--another dream the Lord answered, and are on CD, and I am also making them available for a free download on my lyrics page. Please honor the copyright and permission info I have given at the top of the page, and if this site is a blessing to anyone, please share it with others also whom the Lord might also touch.
God bless you and keep you!
my testimony:
weekly devotional:
lyrics :
Praying the Scripures:
downloads, free downloads, mp3 downloads, Christian music, original music, free mp3s, music, christian, mp3s, Ginny Larsen, songs, lyrics, Christian lyrics, original christian music


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Two words, if "words" is the right word– Pokemon Go.
I was out earlier this evening on a quick four-miler (with pack, too) and instead of heading west out of town for the whole thing, I doubled back east in to town for a bit.
Pokemon idiots everywhere. ADULTS. Whole families. Most disappointingly, groups of young men.
Herds of bleating sheep, heads down and staring at little screens in pursuit of things that don't exist.
Fortunately I didn't see any VMI or USMC logos on hats or t-shirts. That was the only bright spot.


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- Home
- Getting Started
- Students
- Faculty And Advisors
- Parents And Family
- Employment @ DAS
- Bridges to Success
It is the policy of Oregon State University to comply with Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), as amended by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, and other applicable federal and state regulations that prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability.
Under these laws, students with a documented disability have a right to receive reasonable accommodations. Additionally, students have the following responsibilities:
Disclosing your disability in the application process is not required. Applying for academic accommodations is a separate and confidential process through the DAS office.
See Going-to-College.org's tips on writing the application essay for students with disabilities
In order to ensure you have accommodations in place when you begin classes, we recommend that you submit an application and documentation to DAS immediately after you are admitted to OSU.
Occasionally DAS will need more information from you or your medical provider to determine your eligibility for accommodations. A prompt response will ensure that DAS can evaluate your documentation and determine your eligibility for accommodations as soon as possible.
After your documentation has been reviewed and approved you will be emailed and asked to schedule a mandatory orientation session with a DAS staff member. OSU Ecampus and OSU-Cascades students will need phone services and access to a computer with internet in order to complete the orientation.
During this orientation you will learn how to request accommodations each term using DAS Online Services, get connected with a DAS staff member, learn about DAS policies and procedures, and have an opportunity to have your questions answered.
Please schedule your orientation by calling the DAS front desk at 541-737-4098.
During your DAS orientation, you will register for accommodations for the upcoming or current term. In subsequent terms, you will register for courses through OSU and then request your accommodations for the term through DAS Online Services. It is advised that you make your requests for your accommodations immediately upon registration or in accordance with our Timeline for Service Requests.
DAS receives documentation throughout the year. If you submit documentation after the start of a term, and wish to receive accommodations for that term please be advised that you will have to attend a DAS orientation and that your accommodations may take time to coordinate. DAS makes a good faith effort to accommodate students as quickly as possible but requests are generally provided according to our Timeline for Service Requests. For students registering with DAS for the first time, applications with documentation received after Week 8 of the term will be considered for the following term.
If you suspect you have a disability but it has never been documented please visit our Disability Documentation Guidelines and Resources page.
Page Updated 09/2015


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The St. John's newsletter is published monthly for members and friends. News items to be included should be emailed to at email@example.com by the 20th of the preceding month. To receive the newsletter via email, please contact the church office with your email address at firstname.lastname@example.com.
January 17, 2018 / Newsletter
Beginning The Year Making A Difference
Beginning The Year Making A Difference Tuesday, Jan. 9, representing St. John's, Linda Muscat and Marga Parr delivered $1,600 in...Read More
January 31, 2017 / Newsletter
"THE TRIP HOME—FINAL DISCOVERIES IN THE NEW HYMNAL" Final Part Written by Harvey Hahn
After the tour group met at the front door of the Center for Worship, they boarded their bus for the...Read More
January 12, 2017 / Newsletter
"Word and Sacrament" Part 9 Written by Harvey Hahn
Mr. Nhah continued his presentation: "By the way, the liturgy (or order of service) that we will be analyzing...Read More
November 28, 2016 / Newsletter
"The People's Work" Part 8 Written by Harvey Hahn
The group gathered after the break and followed the tour guide to their next stop, a room with the word...Read More
October 3, 2016 / Newsletter
"What's the big deal with all this Reformation stuff I keep hearing about?"
"What's the big deal with all this Reformation stuff I keep hearing about?" That's the kind of question we...Read More
September 27, 2016 / Newsletter
"WHY DO WE DO THAT?—WORSHIP CUSTOMS AND THE ARTS IN WORSHIP" Part 7 Written By Harvey Hahn
[Author's note: Customs have developed over the past 2,000 years in our Christian worship. Most of them developed for specific...Read More
How Men Pray Do you have a wife? Pray with & for her Pray for one. Do you have a...Read More
Undie Sunday
"Undie Sunday" Yep, that's what it was called … and that's what was collected and delivered to Westfield, Wisconsin for...Read More
"Worthship?" PART 6 WRITTEN BY HARVEY HAHN
After the tour group had boarded the bus the next morning, the guide said, "Our ride to the state of...Read More
August 8, 2016 / Newsletter
As the tour group approached the next exhibit in the Center for Church Music, one of the group asked, "I...Read More


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Changes to the Mathematics options in Part IA (First year) from 2017.
From 2017 entry, there will be some changes to the way that maths is taught to first year students who have not taken A Level maths. The entry requirements will remain unchanged.
In previous years, students without A Level maths have taken Elementary Maths for Biologists. From 2017 entry, this option will no longer exist and will be replaced by a revised version of the Mathematical Biology course. It is preferable for students to have at least two science/mathematics A Levels (or equivalent) and helpful to have a strong knowledge base across a wide range of science and mathematics subjects.
Students without A Level maths will take this option but will take a slightly separate stream during the last 3 weeks of the Michaelmas Term. They will also be required to complete 20-40 hours of self study covering the first 4 chapters of Mathematics for Biological Scientists by Aitkin, Broadhurst and Hladky. Additional materials and practice questions on this content are available here:
It will also be recommended that Colleges provide some additional supervisions in order to help to consolidate the self-study material.
If you have any questions regarding this change, please send them to firstname.lastname@example.com


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Wa-hey... only four to go. We've come a long, long way together... through the hard times and the good. So let's celebrate and praise the 90s a little bit more. Just like we should. Six artists are making their grand debuts on the countdown today and only one of them will be seen again. Try to guess who it's going to be. It's top 40 time kids. Let's get to it!
#40 - One (1992)
by U2
Legendary. Epic. Perfect. Single words, not the same. Accurate descriptions of U2's greatest contribution to music in the 1990s. I loved Mary J Blige belting the shizzle out of this, but U2 manage to create something magical with the original version. Rolling Stone placed 'One' at #36 on the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time chart. That's a huge achievement.
#39 - Unfinished Sympathy (1991)
by Massive Attack
When you think that we're likely to never hear dance music as deep as this ever again it's easy to feel a little depressed. 'Unfinished Sympathy' is regarded as one of the most important pieces in the development of trip-hop as a serious genre (as it should be). As insanely amazing as it is, Massive Attack would manage one song that's even better...
#38 - Cigarettes Will Kill You (1998)
by Ben Lee
I still can't believe Claire Danes dated Mr Lee. That has nothing to do with anything though. Sorry. Debuting with 'Cigarettes Will Kill You' was the perfect move. It was embraced by alternative radio throughout the world. Shame that Ben had nothing good to follow it up with. What can I say, I'm really not a fan of his later works. 'Gamble Everything For Love' excluded.
#37 - Nothing Else Matters (1992)
by Metallica
Guitar intro. It gets me every time. Sets the tone for the brilliance that is to come. Oh yes, it's quite the brilliant. You can't really call 'Nothing Else Matters' heavy metal, but it's my favourite song by a heavy metal band.
#36 - Colourblind (1999)
by Counting Crows
Um... Cruel Intentions soundtrack. How amazing do you want to be? This would have to be one of the saddest songs in ever, but somehow the movie managed to make it something beautiful rather than bawl your eyes out-ish. Not that there's anything wrong with a bawl your eyes out-ish song every now and then. Gosh, I'm ever so manly.
#35 - Rearview Mirror (1993)
by Pearl Jam
'Rearview Mirror' topped the It's My Kind of Scene Pearl Jam countdown earlier this year. But it's not the top Pearl Jam song in this one. My logic doesn't resemble your earth logic, so just go with it. If you want a quick rundown of 'Rearview Mirror' go look at the Pearl Jam countdown. Pimping my other articles... priceless.
#34 - Groove Is In The Heart (1990)
by Deee-Lite
Does this bring a huge smile to your face? It does whenever I hear it. 100% pure unadulterated fun. How hard is it to believe that this was released 20 years ago? Try to imagine something as retro-cool as this being released today and actually working.
#33 - Fun For Me (1995)
by Moloko
"I dreamt that the boogie man went down on Mr Spock." I challenge you to find better lyrics.
#32 - Push It (1998)
by Garbage
Garbage set the bar pretty high for themselves with their debut, self-titled album in 1995. With the release of 'Push It,' the first single from their sophomore set Version 2.0, they managed to set it even higher. Manson's delivery of, "P-p-p-push it," is essentially the coolest line in any song. This would definitely be the most sexual song on today's ten if it wasn't for...
#31 - Closer (1994)
by Nine Inch Nails
Opening a song with the lyrics, "you let me violate you. You let me desecrate you. You let me penetrate you," is kind of a no-no. Unless you're going to follow it up soon after with a choice chorus that contains the line, "I want to f**k you like an animal." 'Closer' is the song that would make trashy pop stars blush. You should feel a little dirty each and every time you hear this... in a good way.


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Cash flow is critical to the success of any medical practice, so completion of the billing process in a timely and efficient manner means submitting claims correctly and receiving proper reimbursement in a timely manner.
"There are many things a medical biller can do to help them stay current on changes, as well as to ensure claims are billed and processed correctly," says a billing and coding consultant.
According to experts, the following are the top six things every medical biller should be doing right now to ensure the success of his or her practice.
Knowing the Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs)
Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) are something every biller should be familiar with, especially how they relate to specialties and regularly billed services. LCDs explain if and when a Medicare carrier will cover certain procedures, under what circumstances a procedure is deemed medically necessary and may also contain information on coding guidelines and reimbursement. Knowing which diagnoses are considered medically necessary will also help a biller know if the patient should be signing an Advanced Beneficiary Notice. Being aware of any special coding guidelines is also invaluable information that can help ensure claims are submitted properly and reimbursed the first time through.
Know your electronic submission reports
Submission reports can be utilized to verify that claims were submitted and received by payers. The reports also show which claims were rejected and why. Reviewing these reports will enable you to head off potential denials as claims can be corrected and resubmitted immediately. Any claims that did not make it to the payer can be investigated and errors corrected as well. If these reports are not worked, it may take two to four weeks before a denial may be received. Often times a denial may not even come back in instances in which the payer never received the claim. Working reports will alleviate this issue and help ensure timely payment of your claims.
Expect and work your denials
Denials seem to be the area that billers like the least and often procrastinate about the most. Believe it or not, insurance companies make mistakes and so do billers. Perhaps the claim was billed correctly, but the insurance company made an error and denied it. Perhaps there was an error when the claim was submitted. Don't assume everything is correct. Investigate it. Work it. Biller's should devise a regular schedule in which they work their denials, too, whether it's a "tickler" file or a work queue on the computer. Continue to follow up on any denials on a regular basis until they are paid appropriately.
Register and use payer websites.
Many payers have websites that utilize real-time information, which could be a tremendous help to a biller. Being able to access a patient's eligibility or benefit information could result in the ability to collect the patient's share right at the time of service. So many billers register for these websites, but never take advantage of the benefits. Whether it's checking eligibility and submitting claims, or checking a claim's status and retrieving explanation of benefits, a biller can accomplish many tasks with the click of a button.
Get familiar with your fee schedules.
Insurance companies make mistakes. If they reimburse a service at a lower rate than the fee schedule states, a large amount of revenue could be potentially lost. Knowing the contracted amount a payer should be reimbursing and monitoring the payments received can prevent this type of a loss.


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Mercedes-Benz Sees 27% Sales Increase in China in December
The luxury car maker sold 235,000 Mercedes-Benz in China in 2013
BEIJING—Sales of Mercedes-Benz vehicles in China rose 27% in December from a year earlier, which helped Daimler AG to post an 11% annual increase in the country.
The company sold 235,000 Mercedes-Benz vehicles in 2013, the company's China Chairman and Chief Executive Hubertus Troska said on Thursday. Excluding sales in Hong Kong, the figure was 228,700.


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iPhoto is really all about sharing your images. The cataloguing and editing features are just there to make it easier to find the shots you want and make them look their best, but if all your photo library did was remain on your computer, it would be as useful as the stacks of old photographs stored in that shoebox in your closet.
Over the years, more features have been added to this program, culminating in the first Facebook integration in iPhoto '09, prior to this you needed a Facebook plug-in. iPhoto '11 has expanded this ability, giving you much greater access to Facebook without ever needing to launch your web browser.
1. Choose a photo Launch iPhoto and look for an image you'd like to upload to Facebook. It can be from one of your albums, or any of the top menus in your sidebar (like Events, Photos, Faces or Places). Once you've found the right one, select it, then click on the Share button at the lower right of the interface.
2. Log in Select Facebook from the menu to reveal a drop-down sheet. Type in your account details, make sure you tick the 'I agree to Facebook's terms' box, then click on Login. After a few seconds, a new menu will appear at the bottom right of the interface, granting you access to your photos stored on Facebook.
3. Post on your wall You only need to set your username and password once. The next time you choose Facebook from the shared menu, you'll go straight to the various upload options. With your image still selected, choose Wall to post it. You can add a comment via a drop-down sheet. When you are ready, click Publish.
4. Update your profile Choose another picture and go back to Facebook via the Share menu. Select Profile Picture to update your main photo. Once you've confirmed this action, Facebook will proceed with uploading your new shot. You can check that the last two steps worked by logging into Facebook using your browser.
5. Multiple uploads Until now you've been working with single images, but you can send as many photos as you like, or even entire albums. For an album to work, make sure no shots are selected in the highlighted album, and its entire content will be sent to Facebook when you choose an option in the Share menu.
6. New section As you upload pictures, you can insert them into an existing album, or create a new one (this is done via iPhoto's main Facebook Share menu). As you do this, notice the new section in iPhoto's sidebar called WEB. In it will be your Facebook account. Select it to see all your albums on Facebook.
7. The Facebook connection You can rename an album by clicking on its title (notice the number to the title's right; it shows you how many photos are in that album). There's a dark arrow in a white circle to the right of the section's title. Click on it to launch your web browser and go to your Facebook albums page.
8. Reorder photos Back in iPhoto, double-click on a Facebook album to see the images within it. To reorder them, click and drag them around. The new order will be preserved when viewing the album online with a web browser. Be aware that these changes aren't instantaneous, but should take less than 20 seconds.
9. Synced deletion You can also delete photos from a Facebook album straight from iPhoto by selecting one image (or more) and hitting the delete key. What you can't do is drag a photo from one of your iPhoto albums onto your Facebook menu in the sidebar. Uploading is strictly limited to the Share menu (see step 3).
10. Online viewing As long as you're connected to the internet, iPhoto will keep your link to your Facebook albums. This means that you can add images to one of your albums online using a different method, such as a mobile phone, and the next time you view that album in iPhoto, those images will appear there as well.
11. iPhoto preferences But what if you have more than one Facebook account, or you share your computer with friends or other members of your family? Thankfully, Apple's engineers have considered this: start by opening the Preferences window, either by going to iPhoto > Preferences, or by using the Cmd-, shortcut.
12. Another account Select the Accounts tab and click on the plus (+) button, in the lower left of the Preferences window. You'll be asked to choose which type of account to add. Double-click on Facebook and fill in the details, just as you did in step 2 (you can also delete accounts from that same window with the minus (-) button).
13. Different options From now on, when you click on the Share button, the usual Facebook option will have been replaced by two different ones, bearing the names of the active accounts you created (with a Facebook logo to their left). You can therefore add as many accounts as you need using the method described above.
14. Save to iPhoto The images you can see in those Facebook albums aren't actually saved in your iPhoto library. If you're offline, you'll lose the ability to view them. To preserve them on your Mac, drag them from a Facebook album onto any iPhoto album, or straight into the Photos section, at the top of the sidebar.


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Blog Archives
Desiring the Stars
Sometimes you have to go out of your way to see the stars.
The other night a couple of friends and I drove out to Hueco Tanks State Park just outside of El Paso to go stargazing.
Used to be, I'd step out onto my back deck in rural Virginia whenever I wanted to view the stars. Most nights I could see the Milky Way, it was so darn dark out there.
Not anymore. Now I live in a place where the lights never go out.
Sometimes I miss the darkness. And I especially miss the stars.
Light years away, they seem so far from our grasp.
Not unlike our dreams.
Sometimes we desire a thing so badly, yet it feels far out of our reach.
Like reaching for the stars.
Like building a log home in the woods in central Virginia, for example.
A far-away dream of mine, yet almost unbelievably, it came to fruition. And although my time there seemed short-lived, I know that home served its purpose. It planted the seeds for what would follow. Then I heard guidance ask me to leave that dream behind.
As if that were easy to do.
It reminds me of when I longed to have a child.
For six years I tried unsuccessfully, thinking there must be something more I could do – some other method David and I could try.
During that time, I simultaneously stumbled upon a path that led me on a deeper spiritual journey. One that taught me the meaning of detachment, of detaching from a specific outcome. Of surrendering to a God who is nothing but Love.
Still, when my 36th birthday came along and I was still childless, it was hard not to feel emotional. My mind told me "time was running out."
I didn't give up on my desire to have a child. But over the course of a painful journey of being attached to the outcome, I had learned to entrust the desires of my heart to God.
Whatever the result, I could trust the One who had placed the seed of that desire in me. I could trust the truth that "all things work together for good…."
In other words, I had set the intention and learned to let go of my demand for a certain outcome.
Months later I found myself pregnant, and before my 37th birthday, I had a child in my arms.
Now, again I find myself facing a desire to manifest a deeply held dream. One I'm passionate about that involves my writing.
It feels like my desire has been taking a long time to be realized. And yet again, I find myself relearning the lessons of patience and faith as I surrender control.
Because I know that whenever I am clinging to a particular outcome, my ego is still in control. Whenever I am attached to the way "I" think things should turn out, I'm not free. I'm not in the flow.
What are the deepest desires of your heart?
Do your dreams seem like stars out of your reach? Or are you clinging to them, unable to let go?
Here's what I'd suggest:
Set your sights on the stars. Plant and nurture the seed of your deepest desires. Set your intentions.
Then relinquish the outcome. Open to the flow of creative possibilities.
Entrust the results to your co-Creator.
And watch the stars appear.
Drawing the Face of God
Imagination, innocence, and trust. Qualities I love about children.
On the days I'm fortunate enough to serve at the Nazareth Hospitality Center, I get to witness these qualities. Interacting with the children is the highlight of my day.
But when the migrant children first come through our doors, their faces reveal anything but trust. Their eyes search me, as if for a sign. Some cling to their parent's side or try to crawl in their mother's lap. Others sit quietly on folding chairs as I explain to their parents where they are and ask the necessary questions to fill out our paperwork. Sometimes when I bend down to tell a child my name and ask his or hers, I get no answer. The little girl glances away shyly. The little boy pulls closer in to his mother. I wonder what they've experienced on their journey. And I'm aware of the place they just came from—an Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility.
I ask if they are hungry. And I smile. A lot.
After a while, they respond. They begin to trust that we really do care about them here and that this place is safe. Once a child joins in my game of peek-a-boo or lets me chase him like a make-believe dragon, I feel reassured that despite whatever they've experienced, their imagination and innocence are still intact.
Besides, once they see the toy room, they can't hold back. Before long, I hear the sounds of giggles traveling down the hall and plastic wheels being dragged across the linoleum. Or I'll walk by and catch a budding artist concentrating on her picture. Later she'll ask me for tape so she can add it to our wall collection of drawings from the hundreds of children who've passed through this center. Most likely her colorful drawing will include words like "blessed" and "thank you" and "God." Always the children are thankful. No matter what they've experienced.
Luis, a young man who volunteers at Nazareth, knows a lot about the migrant children. About their innocence and imagination. Their trust. And their faith. In addition to taking classes, studying, and juggling a full schedule, for the past six years Luis has volunteered with his church's immigrant ministry. On weeknights and some weekends he visits and works with the children and youth confined to detention centers.
These children are what our government calls UACs — unaccompanied alien children. That means they've come to the border without a parent. Unaccompanied children under 12 are put in a foster care-type system until they're reunited with a parent or deported. Youth 12-17 are placed in a very structured and secured detention center.
When Luis asks the children why they've come, the top two reasons he hears over and over are:
#1 – "To be with my parents/my mother." Often the child's parent came to this country years ago to work and support the family. Some haven't seen their mother since they were toddlers.
#2 – "To escape the violence." Now more than ever children tell Luis of being threatened by gangs. Girls often don't even go to school for fear of being raped. They tell him no one can protect them.
Luis has many stories about the children and youth he's encountered. Tough stories to hear. Stories about the pain of being separated from parents for years. Stories about things children shouldn't have to endure.
But Luis has something else, too. A very special scrapbook filled with drawings and letters from the children. They say how blessed they are to have known Luis. In their neatly printed letters, they thank him and thank God for him.
And then there are the drawings. So precious. A seven-year-old's version of Our Lady of Guadalupe. A young teen's intricate painting.
But there's one unusual drawing that Luis especially likes to explain.
One day he'd asked the little kids at the center to draw a picture of what God looks like to them. Six-year-old José presented a colorful, oblong-shaped object up at the top of his page with his name above it.
Not having a clue as to what it was and not wanting to hurt José's feelings by trying to guess, Luis simply asked him.
"An airplane," the little guy answered.
Confused, Luis asked, "So, José, why is God an airplane?"
"Because God is fast like an airplane. And I know that if I have God in my heart, God will be the fast plane that will take me to my mom."
Trauma. Heartbreak. Disappointment. Uncertainty about what's going to happen tomorrow.
This is what these children experience. Yet they remain innocent. They still have faith and trust in a God who is present no matter what. And their imagination soars. Just like José's airplane.
It makes me wonder. If I'd been through what these kids have, how might I draw God?