a little something about me…

Hello. My name is Calysta Blaise Rivera. Intense name, right? The kind of name you will never find on a Coke bottle. My mom wanted me to be unique. She wanted everyone to remember my name, so she had to make sure I stood out from the crowd.

From the moment I was in the womb, my mom knew I would dance. Since she is a talented singer, she would sing to me and I would happily dance to her song. Dance continued for me all throughout my life. I was an award winning competition dancer and eventually graduated with my Bachelor of Arts in Dance from AMDA in Los Angeles. Dance was it. It was my all in all. My ENTIRE life.

Until it wasn’t.

If you are in the arts business, you will understand how hard, draining and painful the industry is. How quickly they can turn childhood dreams into adult nightmares. You have a job and then you don’t. You are what they are looking for and then you aren’t. You are the perfect size, and then you are too fat. Too short. Too tall.

I was growing weary and fell into a deep depression.

I knew I needed a change when the suicidal thoughts started to take over. Seeing how I was a pastor’s kids my whole life, you would think I would turn to God. But I didn’t. I turned to men, alcohol and the deep dark hole of loneliness.

Thank God He pursues us… Can I get an '“AMEN?”

He pursued me relentlessly. He chased me down and called me his. I knew I had finally found God in my little bedroom in my run down apartment in LA. My soul felt full; felt nourished again. I was warm with this new feeling of love and acceptance that I didn’t have to change anything about myself to receive.

I felt like I had just been reborn. I could begin all over again.

So. ex-Pro Dancer turns Pastor. I moved back home to Miami and left LA for good. I have continued my pursuit for Christ, throwing myself at anything and everything He tells me to do. Whether it’s cleaning the bathrooms of the church, or helping lead worship and minister. I’ll do anything for the One that gave me EVERYTHING.

I hope you enjoy my thoughts and stories in this blog. We are all called to share the Gospel and spread God’s love.

You are loved. You are worthy. You are His.

Let’s dance on the ashes together, because He has turned them into beauty.

Much love,

Calysta.