A collaboration post with Rev. Emelia
and Samantha's Harvest

This month Sephora released a video on their social media with our very own Samantha. This was a part of a collaboration between Sephora and The Arc (an organization that advocates for human rights and programming for people with disabilities). Samantha is a valued member of our church, having grown up in our congregation, confirmed here, and sings in the choir. 

Sam celebrates beauty in all its forms. She's currently studying cosmetology and working at a high end salon in the city. When Sephora asked, "how do you define beauty?" she answered:

Beauty is not just on the outside, although I am very much into hair and makeup and skincare. I am currently attending Cosmetology School and will look forward to being a makeup artist when I'm done. Makeup helps me feel confident and a better version of myself. I know that what's inside is what's important and I have learned a lot about this from Mikayla Nogueira who is my idol! I hope I get to meet her one day and tell her how much I admire her and am inspired by her, not just for her amazing talent but for how she connects to people, her honesty and the importance of taking risks; she is a smart business woman. I hope I can be a makeup influencer just like her and make my dreams come true. I have always said that people are afraid of people who are different than they are. I am just like everyone else. I have hopes and dreams. I love my job and going to school and I love being with my family and friends. I am the best version of myself when people really see me as a person and not just see my disability.

When the prophet Isaiah says, "how beautiful are the feet of the messenger who brings good news," the historic context is the beauty, hope, and joy that the people feel when a messenger shares that the people in exile in Babylon will be able to return to Jerusalem. The image here is of a messenger running on foot across the landscape to share the news of salvation, liberation, and return. 

While she's not running barefoot on the mountaintops, Sammy is sharing the good news. In the video (click to watch the video above) she says "beauty belongs to everyone." 

Beauty — salvation, liberation, hope — belongs to everyone. This is the message of Christ's birth for us. This isn't a Savior for one kind of person or group of people, but Christ is born so that all may have abundant, beauty-filled, life.