She Story in every issue
Story by Keiada Holmes • Barry Thompson Photography
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ART IMITATES LIFE
HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT OF YOUR LIFE IN TERMS OF A METAPHORa jigsaw puzzle, to be exact? Forrest Gump eloquently told us that “life is like
a box of chocolates” a chance that we all enjoy, anticipate and feel the urge to
experience more and more. Just as with life, in the beginning there are so many
pieces, making it hard to figure out where to start. We vastly assume the process
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will be as easy as mimicking the image laid before us on the cover. However, once
On April 16th, art will imitate life, in the form of a movie about a local woman
we open the box, we find a much greater task- and unfortunately, every piece or
whose life came together in a manner much like I just described. “Escaped to Tell”
struggle isn’t the same. At this climax, its completely up to us, do we gather those
is based on the true story of Hartsville native, Nefateri Smalls and is based off the
dissimilar pieces and figure them out or do we sit back and wait for an easier way
autobiography, Cries From Within. Miracle, the star actress, portrays the real story
out? Many people start a puzzle by doing the outside pieces first- building a firm
of a young girl whose life is seemingly laid out as a runner whose goal is to sprint a
foundation, surrounding and protecting its interior. Some will sort the pieces into
line of hurdles without falling or failing. She faces one bout of defeat after another
colors, others may sort them into shapes. Ironically, how you start isn’t relevant,
often losing sight of herself and the purpose of her own existence. The rise and fall
it’s all about how you finish.
of this movie is woven together so strategically as Miracle wrestles with her will to
Though you usually know what the final product is going to look like, you still
be crippled by her past failures, or to keep pressing on no matter who or what she
have to go through the effort of placing each piece into its rightful position. There
loses in the process. Throughout the film this actress faces insurmountable hurts,
are no short cuts. That’s the key, one piece at a time, it’s always a work in progress
but as you watch you too will be able to trace the hand of God along the way.
right up to the last piece. Well that sounds a bit like life too, doesn’t it? Every step
This family-friendly movie pulls on the heartstrings of the young and old including
of the way you’re making progress. Sometimes a piece is just a piece and it falls
those that are faith-filled and those with no faith at all as the writer exposes family
into place effortlessly. Other times a particular piece brings great satisfaction. You
secrets, butå not without offering hope, healing, love, forgiveness, and restoration.
can’t help but tap down on the piece a few times. That potent feeling of comple-
Built on the biblical basis of the scriptures outlined in Job 1: 15-18, you won’t want
tion is impeccable. The amount of joy we feel inside after completing a task that
to miss the release of this true story that is sure to rock the very foundation of your
caused us to feel so many emotions, didn’t defeat us. And at that very moment,
soul. You will laugh, you may cry, but you will forever be changed. Will you Escape
you learned exactly how to turn your wounds, into wisdom.
To Tell?
APRIL 2016
SHEMAGAZINE.COM