Tag: god

Things Fall Apart

Merima Trako

Things are falling apart branches give in to the wind tree trunks thump to the ground twisters graze the barren land and houses fly unmoving sand resembles a curtain and seas collide taking earthly wonders into its swarming depts. Things fall apart like love and courage we no longer stand Read more

Merima Trako

Merima was born and raised in Bosnia-Herzegovina (former Yugoslavia). Sudden nationalistic divide in the early nineties, leads to a bloody war where a three percent of Bosnian population (mainly Muslims) is killed. Merima and her family escape ethnic cleansing in Banja Luka (where she was born) and settle in Travnik. Her story continues with her move to the USA to study engineering and mathematics, her “other love”, where she lives now. She is a mother, a refugee, an engineer and a woman passionate about creating literary awareness about world issues, social injustices and her life experiences, consisting of complex topics, from religion to non-spiritual events. Her work is available for readers on her website www.worldaccordingtoblam.com. Most recently she published two short stories and two poems in the collection of prose and poetry of the No Name Writing Group from Washington Depot, CT in their anthology titled “This One Has No Name”.

The Cult That Is Religion

Stephanie Ortez

There was a time in my life when I would rise with the sun every morning to usher in the new day. The flawless serenity of the new day’s light channeled the physical energy and spiritual fortitude I would need to meet every challenge and seize every chance to make Read more

Stephanie Ortez

Stephanie is a highly caffeinated mother of two wonderful boys. She is hopelessly addicted to non-fiction books and literature that moves her to tears. She is an admissions advisor for George Washington University online where she assists homeschooled students internationally. Stephanie lives with Bipolar Disorder, PTSD, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. She is a passionate mental health advocate, member of Stigma Fighters. Her writing has been featured on The Elephant Journal, The Mighty, The Organic Coffee Haphazardly and Feminine Collective.

I Spoke to the Mountain

Jennifer Lauren Adams

I spoke to the mountain and valleys to ask, do you even know my name or remember my past? I spoke to the mountain to simply confide, all the insecurities and sorrow I continue to hide. I spoke to the mountain and pledged my life’s key, and the mountain replied, Read more

Jennifer Lauren Adams

Jennifer Lauren Adams is an aspiring 26-year-old creative writer from Dallas, TX. She strives to promote healing and enlightenment by sharing her gift of writing with the world. Look for more projects from this southern belle in the next few months!. Inspirational articles, poetry, thoughts of the day and e-books will be available online for purchase Fall 2016!

Overcoming My Fear of Jesus

Lela Casey

The first time I saw Jesus, I was five years old. I was walking down Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, holding my mom’s hand. He was tall, bearded, and dripping with blood. Two muscular men flanked him, their veins bulging as they supported the bulky wooden cross he dragged along behind Read more

Lela Casey

Lela Casey grew up on magic and get-rich-schemes. She learned from a very early age that nothing is as it seems, and behind every facade lies a portal to places unknown. When not seeking out rabbit holes or chasing after her three little imps, she spends her time writing about deep thoughts and big adventures. You can find her writing on kveller.com, themid.com, brainchildmag.com, and jkidphilly.com.

Finding God: My Journey Begins

Julie Anderson

No matter what your current state of being with “faith” happens to be, I am sure that you would agree that having a truth to hold on to is comforting.  Most of us need to believe so that we can manage our lives. Our beliefs solidify the reason for being, Read more

Julie Anderson

Julie Anderson is the Creator and Publisher of Feminine Collective. Julie was inspired to create this safe place for women to share their secrets, desires, triumphs and pain as the antithesis of what mainstream media offers women today. In her column Pursuit of Perfection, she explores the importance of rectifying the balance of inner and outer beauty through essays, poems and articles on self-esteem, shame, family, and self- acceptance.

I couldn’t get a job … until I finally got hired by the CIA.

Michele Rigby Assad

Facing rejection? Dealing with a string of disappointments? Not sure what you are supposed to be doing in life? I was there and I made it out—You will too. After I graduated from college, I could not get a job, no matter how hard I tried. I was fresh out Read more

Michele Rigby Assad

After obtaining a masters degree in Arab Studies at Georgetown University, Michele applied—along with hundreds of others from the university--to work for the CIA. After a long and grueling hiring process and a year of intensive training, she became an intelligence officer for the National Clandestine Service, the covert (operational) arm of the Agency. Serving for a decade as a counterterrorism officer, Michele worked in all of the awful places you hope you’ll never visit, including Iraq during the height of the war. To date, Michele has traveled to 45 countries, lived in six of those, and has a lot of crazy stories to tell about life overseas. While working for the CIA, Michele initially decried the traits that made her different from senior male officers, but later realized that these traits were what made her a great intelligence officer (empathy, intuition, strong interpersonal skills). Now she’s on a mission to show women that they have the elements to be a Femme Fatale—the incredibly intelligent and operationally astute woman that gets stuff done. After years of service to her country, Michele has left the undercover life behind and now works as an international management consultant focused on Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. She has a more “normal” life now and a lot more time to do the things she loves: writing, cooking, traveling for pleasure, walking on the beach—and most of all, inspiring others!