Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rebecca Friedlander. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Rebecca, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

My father left me a cabin. I was a bit shocked when it happened. We were in the intensive care unit over the Christmas holidays, after Dad had been rushed to the Emergency Room… again. The doctors were not optimistic, and Dad decided to set his affairs in order. We made a list of the things he needed to address, and my brother and I asked about his last wishes.

“Dad, who do you want to leave your cabin to?” I asked.

“You.” His voice was weak but determined.

Over the next few weeks, Dad slowly slipped away. I was with him during his last hours, singing songs about heaven as he stepped into eternity. He was finally Home.

Dad’s cabin was a beautiful log home in the country of East Texas. As a film producer and author living on the West Coast, I decided to sell the cabin, until I started falling in love with the rugged beauty of the cabin the piney woods of East Texas. Two weeks before the Covid-19 lockdowns started, I moved across country to do some renovations. It was the start of a whole new creative adventure.

I’ve worked on films all over Europe, the Middle East, Alaska, and so many epic locations. But something about the creative process of using wood, stone, and space to create a beautiful home has been a tremendous thrill. I documented the creative process and turned it into a DIY TV show called, “The Divine Adventure.” Today I hold spiritual retreats at the cabin, and people from all across the country come to experience the peace and beauty at Dad’s home, affectionately called, “The Refuge Cabin.”

Rebecca, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

A good story has always captured my attention. Whether it’s producing films about the early Celtic saints from the Dark Ages or traveling the world to capture interviews, photoshoots, and makeovers from 50 women, building a good story has always been key. I love digging deep to capture a story that inspires others with hope, truth, and beauty.

Never formally trained, I self-published my first book in my early twenties, and started a TV show at the local cable station several years later. I did all the layout for the book, and all the production for the show, including film editing. It was a crazy amount of work, but I learned so much. Today, my programs air on the largest faith-based platforms around the world, are translated into various languages, and my books are published with Baker House Publishing.

A special passion is holding Creativity Retreats in my cabin in North East Texas. People fly in from around the world to receive inspiration and powerful coaching on their own creative journey.

Whether it’s traveling to Ireland on a one-way ticket to film the docudrama, “Celtic Pilgrimage,” or writing my new book from the cabin “The Divine Adventure: Spiritual Practices for the Modern-day Disciple,” I love to inspire others to build their faith and go after their dreams!

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Creativity can be consuming. To live your dreams, it takes a lot of time management and energy to make them happen. Sometimes you can get yourself in above your head! While joking with a friend who is also a visionary, I quipped,

“We have this problem called TMV: Too Much Vision!”

One of the toughest things for artists is setting reasonable goals that help us finish what we start. For instance, I was working on a project at the cabin last week and had the idea to build a stone hearth with river rock. I could see the vision so clearly, worked out my measurements, and even created the stones using tinted cement and rubber molds. By the time it was ready to install, I realized this was a MUCH bigger project than I envisioned. There was no way I could mix all the concrete and mortar by myself! Reaching out to a couple of friends made all the difference in the world. We made it a team effort, I provided snacks, and it became a great day full of meaningful fun that everyone could be a part of.

As artists, we have a narrow road to walk: it’s easy to want others to do everything for us, so that we can only focus on the parts we enjoy, but that’s not reality. If we expect others to do the hard work for us, we’ll rarely see our dreams come true. On the other hand, sometimes our vision is bigger than what we can make happen ourselves, and we need community. Valuing others and inviting them into our dreams really sets us up for success.

Today I have a beautiful fireplace hearth as proof that community paves the way for creative dreams to come true!

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being an artist is watching others being impacted by the finished project. There’s joy in the creative journey itself, and a sense of accomplishment that’s really therapeutic to the human soul just in the act of creating. Yet, I love the celebration that happens when I bring people into the finished work. Watching them explore the beauty and wonder you’ve created for them to enjoy is so fulfilling, especially if it causes them to find hope, peace, and encounter God in fresh ways. There’s nothing more beautiful!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.rebeccafriedlander.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccafriedlander/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RebeccaFriedlanderProductions
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SeedsTV

Image Credits
All photos taken by Rebecca Friedlander