Greetings, I’m Mitzie. Inky Fern Studio is where I write and create art that helps me practice deeper listening so I can better learn, process life, celebrate, grieve, and grow. Most of my work centers around the themes of faith, justice, gratitude, joy, and comfort. I leave it here for you in the hopes that you find something that speaks to you. May you come to feel deep in your being that you are loved and claimed by God, and may that bring you a deep sense of peace.
Welcome Friend,
Creating space for deeper listening
Recent Prayers
The Resurrection Fern
On a particularly dark day in my life, I noticed for the first time, “new” ferns growing on the branch of a large oak tree outside my home. I had walked under that tree countless times, I guess I never bothered to look up.
It had just started to rain again, and as I looked up to watch the rain, I saw the fern instead. The brightest of greens, the healthiest looking plant I had ever seen.
Days later, in an attempt to enjoy nature and find some of that same surprising joy, I took a walk. This time, the fern was shriveled and dry. I soon learned that this special type of fern is called Resurrection Fern. It is a remarkable plant that has the ability to lose 75% of its water content and even up to 97% during extreme droughts. Each time it rains, the water “brings it back to life,” they say. Even though they call it resurrection, the plant never actually dies.
This extraordinary and resilient plant reminds me of my baptism. When God, comes to us in the simpleness of water and claims us as God’s own, we are forever beloved children. No matter how far away from God we feel at any given time in our lives, there is no place where God is not. No matter how shriveled up our faith or life might feel, God, brings the water of life to renew and refresh us.
Inky Fern gets its name from this simple and powerful day in my life.
If the world or the church has made you feel unwelcomed or unloved or unworthy, know that here you are safe and beloved.
It is a Core Value of Inky Fern to strive to make God the subject of the verb. Faith is a gift, not a badge of honor. It isn’t about what we do, who we love, or who we are. Here, an effort is placed on recognizing that God has already claimed us and that God first loved us. We don’t follow God, God brings us into God’s story so that we might know joy and peace. You are beloved.
We come to you this Epiphany day to ask for your grace. Forgive us when we stray. Forgive us when we turn away.