God ordained gifts: Miacarla → Adine Pietersen

Shalom beloveds

Miacarla Johns is such a wonderful human being. I met her briefly through a mutual friend and watched her perform via a virtual Messianic women’s gathering last year. I enjoyed listening to her story and her music. I was so intrigued, that I needed to know some more about her. I spoke to Miacarla about her “God ordained gifts” and she shares her journey through her music and her friendship with Brutus, the magnificent lion who taught her so much. Learning about Brutus’s story simply plucked at my heart strings so much! Let’s read more below.

Tell us a bit about yourself?
I am Miacarla Johns, married with three children and one grandchild. I am a singer/songwriter, professional home organiser/declutter specialist and also a deep tissue massage therapist.

What is your God ordained gift/s and how did you discover them?
My gifts are simply the things I do. I discovered singing when some vocalists asked me to do a solo part for them in my 20’s. It opened up a whole new world for me – discovering my voice and then deciding to invest in it. I eventually started hearing melodies and lyric in my head and then started writing songs which led to sharing my music in public. I discovered I loved professional organising and decluttering through various tidy-up specialists. I then went on a personal journey to sort the things I owned out. This had a direct effect on every other area of my life. It is truly amazing when we sort our spaces out at home or work. Our life changes for the better and we can focus on those things we were born for because space and time has been created. I even enjoy singing about this topic.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EkUlJeNfkMZQ6VN9vrDgeuAe2Zluzu-n/view?usp=drivesdk

I’ve helped people periodically over the years to get into order but have now gone into business since my massage business took a knock during Covid. It is a delight to see people be free and enjoy their spaces to the fullest. Massage therapy is also one of my gifts. I started in the health and wellness industry as a slimming therapist. My employer noticed that I kept giving one particular client shoulder massages. She was curious to know how I was doing the treatment as I hadn’t been trained in massage. She discovered that I had good hands and decided to train me. I eventually stopped doing other body treatments and focused only on massage therapy. When I left that company I went to study massage therapy formally.

What are the highlights/victories you have achieved through your gift?
When I was a little girl I used to dream about being in theatre. Through my music journey one of the highlights was that this dream came true when I turned 40. I did a 3 night theatre production called my “My story My Song” with the release of my first album “Intimate Reflections”. All that dreaming definitely paid off. That’s where it all starts…with a dream. The more challenging part is putting it into action – like adding works to your faith. Baby steps get you there.

One of my other highlights was sharing a friendship with a captive-born lion Brutus, whom I share, my latest album with… “Brutus the lion – his story and mine”. Brutus came from a circus in France where he experienced violence and as a result his jaw broke. Upon our introduction I had an extremely strong connection with him even though he would not show his face due to his fear of humans. I was determined to connect with him with the intention of his caged heart being healed. On my second visit to Drakenstein Lion Park in Paarl, I asked Abba to wake Brutus up, let him know I was coming and amplify my voice so that he could hear me. When I got there, I nervously stood outside his enclosure looking out for him. Everything looked dismally brown but my senses were sharp for any movement or sound. Suddenly I saw something startle inside a wooden shelter – it was his mane! Imagine! The “lion that hides” was laying still on his back moving his head to and fro, his side profile looking rather outstanding as he paused. My heart leaped with excitement as I realised Abba was answering. I started speaking to Brutus, apologising, asking him to forgive me as if I had beaten him. He then got up, showed me his deformed face just for a moment and then descended back into the familiar earth. I was mesmerized to say the least! Satisfied as if I’d been eating many choices morsels. Delightful endorphins flowed through my body all the way home and the feeling lingered way into the night.

…And so started this strange relationship. Good thing we got off to a good start because the rest of the journey I had set myself up for rejection from a lion that refused to engage. I visited during feeding times because he was a guaranteed “see.” When it was time to eat, he would pick up his food, turn his back or go to sit behind his tree. I often sighed with disappointment but I didn’t blame him. I definitely needed a different approach though. We can’t expect different results if we keep doing the same thing. If you want to change your life, you have to intentionally do something different to bring about a shift.

After much pondering on how to reach him I decided to start eating with him. We would have our Shabbat meal on a Friday together when time when time allowed for the long drive. Eating together allows for connection and I desperately needed to engage with this captive born king. By doing this over time, expecting a return on my investment, he started noticing me and for the first time after one usual meal together he unusually approached the fence and sat down a distance from me. I slowly got up and meticulously tiptoed toward him, then quietly sat down. He looked me straight in the eyes while I was trying with all my might to compose myself as part of me couldn’t compute what was actually happening. I sat there as still as possible enjoying his presence. Up close, I got to see just how maimed his face was, how misaligned his right fang was piercing into his flesh, the pink spot on his tongue, how he blinked involuntarily, his abnormal raised eye, the triangle shape cut out of his ear etc. He felt safe enough to show me his horrific scars…this is what intimacy is made of. And then – with much gratitude and appreciation of what was happening – the king in his own right roared! The ground vibrated beneath me as I felt I was going to explode with overwhelms. After all this intimacy I got to reap the reward. This is just how it works in relationships. If you’re not willing to invest there will be no return. I’ve had around 10 different flavoured encounters with King Brutus over a period of 3 years. It was so worth it! I often wonder if things would have turned out the way they did had I not decided to eat with him. Food lands in our blood and that’s sacred. Every surprise engagement from him had me soaring on a high.

But then sadly, in December 2021 Brutus was put down due to blindness in the one eye and partial blindness in the other preventing him from finding his food and water. He also mostly stayed in his shelter. I was grateful I got to see him a week before he left the earth. He lived as long as I am married, 19 years. We had much in common hence us sharing an album together. I will always remember the lion that changed the trajectory of my life.

Brutus remains the face that represents abused lions in our country and abroad – the fallen prides still performing in circuses doing things they were never created to do, cubs stolen from their mothers and used for cub petting, lions killed in small enclosures for their trophies, those butchered for their bones, claws and teeth so that humans can have medicine and jewelry, those drugged for photography and used as punching bags for entertainment while drugged. The abuse list is long so I speak on behalf of those who cannot speak fulfilling the first role Abba gave us as humans…to look after the earth and the animals. With this in mind I ask that you only support true sanctuaries that don’t allow physical contact with lions, don’t have breeding programs, don’t allow cub petting etc. This fuels the canned hunting industry. May Brutus’ Legacy live on and his story be told until all things are restored.

Full proceeds of ‘Brutus the Lion’ album goes to www.lionrescue.org.za

The highlight in my organising business is seeing the joy on the client’s faces after I have brought balance in their homes. Guiding people on a path of self-care, self-compassion and self-honor through massage therapy is also extremely satisfying. Loving ourselves is a common thread in Scripture. I’m not referring to vanity or the like. If we do not know how to look after ourselves well, we will not be able to impart it to another. Looking after our temple is worship to our Abba who designed us so well.

What are the challenges you face or have faced with your gift/s?
The fact that I am not tech-savvy is not only a challenge but a great frustration and has often been the cause of procrastination. As a result of this, I only have hard copies of the lion album as it is not yet on the digital platforms. I have also lost multiple photos from shoots as I somehow struggle to file these digitally. This issue really holds me back. I’m the kind of girl that likes to hold things in my hands, turn pages, look you in the eye. I get lost in the digital world and get stuck! I guess wanting to live under a tree is not so digitally complimentary. So I need to outsource this from someone who really loves this kind of work.

How have you navigated using your gift during a crisis?
Crisis actually allows my musical gift to break open more intensely. It’s a wonderful catalyst even though it can be a grating experience. Much of my music has been birthed in pain and discomfort and out of that something beautiful has come about. I also remember during the hard lockdown how I challenged myself to do some Facebook live videos online and overcame the fear of being on camera. It was scary but I soon realised it’s very similar to being on stage and I just embraced it.

What advice can you give to others in pursuing their own God ordained gift/gifts?
What is it that makes your smile go right around your head? Pursue that! Even if it’s in small doses. I’m not telling to drastically change your career although those who need to do this will “know” when the time is right. Start moving forward with the things that tug at your heart strings.

Dream, write it down, dream some more, do something physical to compliment your vision, sow a seed. When the seed starts to germinate, nurture it. There must be an investment into one’s dream. It doesn’t matter how old you are, the greatest dreams we carry are often in the latter years of our lives. Older we get, the more exciting our lives become in terms of purpose. “Do you have a vision? Write it down.” Start there.