Journal
With the recent tragic death of Charlie Kirk, many are realizing that we continue to be caught in a spiritual battle for our culture and a Biblical worldview. Those battles are often played out in the media and affect the careers of artists who want to maintain a Biblical foundation and worldview. Working as a believer of Christ in the media and entertainment industry is a constant battle on many levels. Audition, pitch your script or project, network, audition and pitch again, write some more, and then do it all over again and again. You just keep stabbing it out with seemingly no results. Life in the arts and creative field takes grit, and the battle never ends. And wanting to uphold a Biblical worldview as a Christian is even more challenging.
Yet, even if you have a trophy case of awards to show for your work, talent, and success, with each project or production ending, you start from scratch – ground zero, fighting for the “next.” You train yourself to stay and think positively and trust someone is out there thinking and cheering for you, thinking about you for that next job, and will be in the trenches for you. But are they? The industry requires a life of humility and endurance. And as a Christian, it is imperative to have your feet firmly planted in scripture and an intimate engagement with God. It also takes others supporting you with their words of encouragement, prayers, and willingness to stand and keep cheering for you as you battle on. That’s why The Influence Lab and Influence Women were created. But it also means you have to be prepared for the kind of battle you are actually fighting. Is it a spiritual battle? Or is the battle a result of an “out of line” choice that has resulted in a struggle you created for yourself?
“The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.” Proverbs 21:31
Whether a spiritual battle or one that you created due to your choices, what’s your responsibility and duty? God calls you to be ready, disciplined, and stay diligent. He instructs us to stick with His plan and not ours. And…compromising is not permitted in the wait. Elijah hid in a cave until the smoke cleared from his prophecy that put a price on his life from King Ahab. Joseph was thrown into a pit for a time, David had to run for his life twice, and Daniel was in a lion’s den. Was God teaching all of them lessons and giving them wisdom during these times? Did God provide? Yes. Was it challenging? Yes. But each of them trusted God, and they were victorious in the end. Victory is mine, says God – 1 Corinthians 15:57.
Faith is liberating, and uncompromised faith is rewarded. (more…)
Journal
Just say no. I hear this a lot from leadership coaches. Know when to say yes and when to say no. Is your NO— really NO? Will leaving the door cracked lead to compromise and a warped journey? Do you fear that the exit sign will lead to emptiness and abandonment?
Be careful who and what you are listening to and how you’re being manipulated!
When I was growing up, I was taught the song, “Be careful little ears, feet, hands what you hear, for the Father up above is looking down in love, (His grace is unending) so be careful little (ears, tongue, feet) what you hear, say, do.” Maybe we should add “mind” to the song?
Your mind and thoughts affect your heart and passions, and your passions affect your choices (a.k.a. your hands and feet). Subversive messaging seeps into subconscious minds and affects choices. We often listen to the people who are telling us what we “want” to hear and not what we “need” to hear. Our ears hear the message, but are we discerning the right message? I give my family instructions daily that never seem to get carried out correctly because they often hear something different, or, frequently, only what they want to hear. The greatest mistake we make is the assumption that communication has been acted on correctly. Cultural influences send us thousands of media messages daily on multiple platforms, and in our 24/7 overbooked lives, we get beaten down and manipulated by the constant noise affecting our choices. Often it comes in first with a dribble – a slow drip – until we realize we have been overcome with a flood and been “hooked, line, and sinker.”
Exit. Get off the hamster wheel, put down your screen, and get off social media.
In artistic careers, it’s not easy to let go of what we set out to do creatively. Passions blind us to messages and signals we should be paying attention to, and we often push relentlessly harder, not willing to give up our dreams. Slammed doors, scripts unsold, auditions never booked, or projects never made create insecurity and depression, leading to desperation. And no one wants to hire or be around desperate artists. Could we have truly heard God’s voice? Is He listening to our prayers, laments, and wails? Could it be that we need to stop and listen to what we need to hear, rather than what just sounds good? The “NO’s” we face are perhaps a place where we can consider exiting the hamster wheel of striving. Are we listening to God’s voice and fishing on the right side of the boat? In Peter’s moment of insufficiency, Jesus told him to cast his net to the other side of the boat. Peter listened, trusted Jesus, and was rewarded not only with physical fish for that moment, but with a whole new direction for his life. (more…)
Inner Views
Do you struggle with anxiety? Perhaps even in the areas you’re most gifted in or feel called to? Learn to navigate the highs and lows of the industry as Sweet Magnolias showrunner, Sheryl J. Anderson, gives insight to real connection with God and true influence. When your career, family or future feels unstable, you can find joy in the steadiness of God.
BIO
Sheryl J. Anderson is the creator and showrunner of Sweet Magnolias, a romantic drama for Netflix whose third season drops in July 2023; she also has a variety of projects in development. Sheryl began her writing journey as a playwriting major at The College of William & Mary in Virginia. Lured to Los Angeles by the intrigue of television and the promise of 300 sunny days a year, she worked as a television studio executive, screenwriter, and half-hour series writer (Parker Lewis Can’t Lose, Dave’s World). She then moved to writing and producing hour-long series, working on a wide range of series (Charmed, Flash Gordon, When Calls the Heart). She created Ties That Bind, UPtv’s first scripted series. She has sold pilots to Netflix, SyFy, NBC, Lifetime, and Disney and has written movies for Hallmark, UPtv, and Lifetime. Sheryl is also a novelist and teaches and mentors through a variety of universities and organizations.
INNER VIEW
Kathleen Cooke – What’s the one thing you’d like to share with women that God has recently taught you?
Sheryl J. Anderson – In the last several years, God has taught me – is still teaching me – that I am not in control; He is. I was impatient from childhood, always sure I had the answer, I could solve the problem, I could lead the way. There were triumphs, but there were also plenty of failures. Now, after a series of painful, heartbreaking events – the deaths of my parents, my divorce, the betrayal of friends – I finally understand. I do what I can to the best of my abilities, but there are situations – and people – that I must entrust to His care because I am not able to fix them. This applies to my relationships and my work. While hard-won, patience has become a source of peace and power, a constant reminder that He walks beside me. And when I walk with Him, rather than racing ahead, it is easier to stay on the path He would have me walk.
When you’re impatient, it is all too easy to overreach: “This one moment will solve everything.” Which all too quickly turns into “This one moment will ruin everything.” But impatience is a form of fear: “If it doesn’t happen now, it will never happen!” And, as we know, fear is the absence of faith, the denial of faith. When we root ourselves in faith, we know that God is holding us up, just as Jesus lifted Peter out of the stormy sea, and we will find our footing again – as long as we walk with Him.
Kathleen – The industry is a roller-coaster of highs and lows. One day, you have a job, and then it may be a while before the next one comes. How do you find hope when things fall apart? Do you have a scriptural promise you find comforting?
Sheryl – Anxiety is my chief antagonist. It blocks my path when I’m striving to do my best. It whispers in my ear when I’m considering an uncertain future. It wakes me up at night. And it fuels my constant struggle to set aside my will and embrace God’s will. (more…)
