This past week, I enjoyed another interesting experience in this writing journey of mine. À la Kath and Kim, for a few brief moments, I became a ‘filum star’! You see, I had agreed to make a little book trailer/promotional video for my non-fiction book Soul Friend, due for release next month. I invited two of my very good friends to take part and engaged a young photographer to film us. We laughed a lot, as, one after the other, we sat in front of that camera, trying to speak as naturally as possible. But in the midst of all the fun, some deeper thoughts also surfaced for me.
As I observed my lovely spiritual mentor Joy, now over eighty years old, bravely sharing her feelings in front of that camera about my writing a book featuring her role in my spiritual journey, I felt so humbled and grateful for her support in it all. Then when my younger friend present—someone I have mentored for many years—took her turn and shared how helpful our relationship has been, these same feelings almost overwhelmed me. Again I glimpsed God’s amazing grace at work, as we have each fed into the lives of the other, through God’s leading and enabling.
But later I realised that, represented in my lounge room, were four generations of committed Christian believers—my spiritual mentor in her eighties, I in my sixties, my younger friend in her forties and our wonderful video person in his twenties. God has gifted us all in a variety of ways and each of us is endeavouring to use these gifts as best we can at this stage of our journey. The opportunities my older friend Joy now has for ministry are different from the many she had earlier. Mine too have changed over the years, as I have moved through various careers into my current writing and speaking role. My younger friend is giving herself totally by serving overseas and is home only for a visit. And our young photographer friend is poised on the brink of doing wonderful things in his field, I believe. Whatever our age, God is using each of us as we step out in faith.
Now I am sure I am not cut out to be a ‘filum star’! I have spoken publicly many, many times—but sitting in front of that camera is a different experience altogether! I knew I couldn’t ‘run off at the mouth’, as I tend to do on occasions. Our time was very limited and we had to watch our words. And that’s why I was so thankful when, as we waited for our other collaborators to arrive on the day, my friend Joy, who felt somewhat the same as I did, quoted some encouraging words from Scripture out loud and prayed for God’s wisdom and peace for both of us.
And God does not let us down, we discovered yet again. God rescues, God guides, God gives wisdom and peace—even in front of a camera.
For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights. (Psalm 18:31-32)
Jo-Anne Berthelsen's Blog 
Great blog! So glad the filming went well. I’m sure you were all stars!! Liked the part about how each person is serving God in different ways at different ages – amazing how God uses us for his purposes at every stage.
So glad you ‘friend serving overseas’ was back for this filming! Very significant!
Hi Kathy! Thanks for your comments. And yes, we thought the end result of the filming was really good, but it remains to be seen how it comes up once it is edited and all put together! I’ll put it on Facebook when it’s ready and also on my website, plus a new website we’re creating especially for this ‘Soul Friend’ book. I actually wasn’t well on the day with some virus, but it all came together under God’s hand–and no one else caught my virus either, apparently! My ‘overseas friend’ was particular good on the DVD, and my lovely Joy was so determined to do her best. She had to look down at her notes once, but I don’t reckon it matters. And I burbled on in my usual way!! My launch is on 28th October and that is just before my ‘overseas friend’ goes back, which is great too. Hope all is going well with you. Andre must be due back soon, from memory. Have a wonderful time! God bless.
What an adventure! I can imagine it must have been very moving for you to see both your mentor & one you’ve mentored there together acknowledging the value of these roles… I love the picture you painted of each of you at different stages of your lives serving God in your own unique ways – each fulfilled in the special roles set out for you – and continuing to live life to the full. But I must say, Jo-Anne, you are one of the most UN-Kath & Kim-like Filum Stars I know!
Thanks, Kerry–or at least, I THINK it’s a compliment that I don’t resemble either Kath or Kim! And neither my mentor nor my friend Alison does either for sure! It was just hearing Kath and Kim say ‘filum star’ on the TV the night before that made me think of them. Yes, it was a lovely experience, except that I was pretty nervous, for some odd reason, and also wasn’t well–I only just made it back from taking Joy home before I had to head hurriedly to the bathroom! I was just so grateful though that I didn’t have to postpone it and that it all worked out well. I can’t wait to see the end result!