The 'Age of Sail' was the period in which international trade and naval warfare were dominated by sailing ships. This is a significant period during which square-rigged sailing ships carried European settlers to many parts of the world in one of the most important human migrations in recorded history.

The Age of Sail::: A way to start new. To refresh oneself of a tyrannical system. To seek an adventure bigger than themselves. To get away from all that hurts and holds..to feel there is something to prove of oneself.

This is where my mind lands on a question. What do we strive for? It's an inner frustration we never relieve and it sinks us to complacency. To compare. To prove.

We become a routine because we don't know what else to do or how to. Or is it that we don't know what we really want? Are we truly honest with ourselves when we say that it's ok to work a dead-end job our whole lives cause benefits are good or we get a raise every month. What are we waiting for...or did we give up?

Where did your hopes go when you were a child and you looked at stars and thought you could touch them? You became bigger than you really were. You had hopes and desires that you thought would lead you through your lifetime. Desires change but that youthful hope is still there.

I say 'we' cause I am guilty of this myself. I'm done with striving and comparing. I'm living in the Age of Sail, living the adventure and loving it, knowing that God knows my desires. Doors will open when the time is right.

Don't get complacent. It's okay to start new. Money isn't everything. Do what you love. what you want.

We have nothing to prove.

Fern.

I'm not usually into ink drawings but this is intracately beautiful.

Check out Brett Manning's art.

Phones and Flowers..

Check out this biz based in Portland called MapleXO She makes amazing jewelery out of skateboard scrap. She has also teamed up with desgin company here in Portland as well called Grove and creating Iphone4 cases out of Skateboards that were sold with a limited supply awhile back. Grove has beautiful Iphone cases marked with art from artists around the world all printed on carved bamboo.

AND This chick, Lotie is from France who did the art for this commercial. A garden in the city. I love her way of shaping her art.

Miller Clean Streets from Lotie on Vimeo.

Humour.

Let's be honest...

I am horrible at wrapping gifts. It's like being back in kindergarten. I cannot princess up an inatimate object if photography depended on it. If wrapping presents were an art, mine would definately be abstract and absolutely make no sense to the observer.

Sundance Shorts...

WASTE LAND Official Trailer from Almega Projects on Vimeo.

This is a super interesting doc that was filmed over about three years. This artist Vik Muniz went from Brooklyn to his native Brazil where is found the world's largest garbage dump located close to Rio De Janero. Designated self pickers "catadores" are who the story revolve around. The initial intent was to "paint" the catadores with garbage which revolved into photographic images of themselves out of garbage.

Obselidia - trailer from Zak Mulligan on Vimeo.

AND this just looks like an interesting short and beautiful cinematography. These are both films that were in the Sundance film festival. Two very different but interesting on the same level to me.

The season of waiting..

For the last year, I have lived in Camas, Washington. I invested time building a community of a house and building relationship with the kids I do YoungLife with. I have been called to camas, for such a time as this, yes and I've been thankful for it. Camas has been my own little oasis, my home away from what I've known as home. I've been disconnected from the civilization of Portland and I knew that if I went back early, it would be like going back into the desert that would only dry my soul.

So I've been obedient. I wasn't going to leave until I was released. I wasn't sure how that would all work out, the process of being released...until a week ago.

Now the back story before I get into the present story. I have hated Portland my whole life. It was the place I grew up, the place I have the worst memories of, it was the place I left when I could but it was also the place I came back to and missed when I left. About two months ago, I was at Solid Rock Church and heard a sermon on callings, dreams and desires. John Mark said, "If you want to see change in the government, move to Washington DC, grow your kids up there and change the government. If you want to see change in the film industry, move to LA, grow your family there and change the inudstry." So I was hit by a thought, 'What am I really passionate about? What do I want to see change?'....Prostitution, sex trafficking....Portland was just deemed 'Pornland' because it was ranking higher than Las Vegas in child sex trafficking. I looked around the congregation at Solid Rock and words were spoken over me. "Jenna, you are called to the very place you hate, the very place you will face your fears."

And it will become family.

So in the last two months, graduating nursing school, more opportunities have come up to be able to see change in this city, in this gnarley industry of trafficking.

Last week, having an incredible conversation with my housemate, one of my best friends and my area director for YoungLife, Erin. There came a conclusion that it was time for me to go back to Portland. My heart is there and my passion for the lost is different than YoungLife....far different. So Portland it is, the new adventure starting in January I'm praying for. I have no idea what to expect; where to begin but I have peace.

It's just right.