February is short, I'm tall.

February 28, 2011

 

What an awesome month! This was the first month that I literally stayed put in Nashville since I moved here last October. Being in the city for a solid month allowed me to really immerse myself into all that this city has to offer, yet I only feel like I’ve scratched the surface.

           

February brought new challenges, which I call opportunities. I am now a instructor at the Barbizon Modeling and Acting school. I absolutely love this position. Working with girls between the ages of 9 and 17, and getting to share with them how to put their best foot forward in this world is an opportunity to change their lives. I teach subjects such as public speaking, runway modeling, poise/posture, make up application, wardrobe styling for your body shape and so much more. What lies underneath all of these lessons is the fact that I’m teaching these girls from a young age what it means to represent yourself in this world confidently with all of the tools necessary to succeed.

            I have met some incredible, amazing, and talented people here in Nashville and I am so excited to see what these new friendships and relationships develop into over the upcoming years. I’m looking forward to Spring and I am planning a ceremony for the day that I box up the winter clothes. Something along the lines of a rain dance, but more of a warm weather/sunshine dance.

            I’m making progress in the way of graduate school and I will probably be enrolling in Lipscomb University’s Masters of Business program very soon. There are more exciting things waiting in the wings, I just can’t write about them at this time J

         My friend Michelle and I started the Daniel fast yesterday. It’s a 21 day fast based on the story of Daniel at the time when the Israelite people were taken into captivity in Babylon. When one kingdom takes over another, the talented up-and-comers from the defeated kingdom were corralled for special training and indoctrination into the ways of the ruling kingdom. For Daniel, this meant being treated to the best food and drink to be had from the king’s own table. This violated the kosher dietary practices which were central to his understanding of his identity as one of God’s people. So Daniel decided to eat less than what was offered, only fruits, vegetables and water. He passed on the offering of the King’s wine. Daniel’s spiritual influence is closely associated with his choice to abstain from the riches of a powerful culture and to honor God first and foremost. We too are partakers of a powerful culture which can at times compromise our identity as people of God. Like Daniel, we can choose to abstain from aspects of this culture for a season, for the purpose of spiritual growth and development.   

As in the Daniel story, the goal of this fast is not to rail against the surrounding culture, but rather to connect more powerfully with God in order to reengage with that culture with greater spiritual clarity and godly influence.

I just received a box with all of the new books that I ordered! I’m so excited for one book in particular entitled, Millennials Rising. It’s all about the Millennial generation. So interesting!!

 

Until next time – Rachael Todd