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Mary DeMuth’s memoir Thin Places is a moving narrative that deals with surviving child abuse and beginning the healing process. The writing is detailed and poignant as DeMuth writes of painful issues and emotional trauma. She recounts troubling stories of a girl who could find no defender, no protector among the people charged with caring for her. Sexually abused by teenagers, neglected by a babysitter, abandoned by parents and living in apathetic communities, Mary rarely found a safe place she could turn. Throughout Thin Places, her vulnerability is clear as she shares both her struggles and her source of hope in hopeless situations. It was in her own thin places that Mary met God and found a place and time to heal. She describes this as a “place where heaven and the physical world collide, one of those serendipitous territories where eternity and the mundane meet.”

Over and over, Mary finds herself in thin places and heals slowly through those experiences. She writes profoundly and openly of her love of Jesus and the healing power of Scripture with conviction and authority, offering herself as an example of God’s healing power. Healing, she explains, is a long emotional process, a series of small victories over the course of years. She vividly paints her struggles with her own sense of self-worth as a never-ending journey.  DeMuth describes the youth groups, churches and campus ministries that were there to love her through a very long process – indicating that the presence of God in the world becomes real when people reach out in love to those who are in need. Without a veritable army of support, starting at a young age, the author would have found nothing in this world to live for.

Thin Places is an effective, evocative memoir written not simply to tell a story, but to reach out to others scarred by abuse and neglect.  While she makes it clear that her healing from abuse spans decades, DeMuth’s open and direct memoir challenges the reader to face down the demons of the past and begin the healing process. Thin Places provides the reader with a thin place, a starting point on the path to healing.

 For more information about author Mary DeMuth, please visit her website - www.marydemuth.com.

Take a pro athlete who loves any and all things Superman, mix in some inspiration and music, and what do you get?  You get the incredible Ben Utecht.  A professional football player and a classically trained singer.  Utecht is currently a free agent in the NFL and was formerly a starting tight end with the Cincinnati Bengals and with the Indianapolis Colts when they won the Super Bowl two years ago.  Sports definitely plays a major role in his life, but it quickly becomes evident that off the field he’s equally as passionate about his faith, family and music.     

Utecht told SC, “Music to me has always been a release.  It’s always been something outside of sports in my life that is part of my identity…giving me a creative outlet.  One of the reasons why I’m drawn to music so much is because it’s really a universal language, and I don’t know if that sounds corny.  I don’t intend for it to.  What I mean by that is no matter what your background, no matter what your faith perspective, no matter how you were raised or the environment that you’re from…everybody has a connection to music. It just gives you, as a musician, such a unique avenue to really have an impact on people’s lives in a positive way.  And I just really get excited about that.”

Indeed Ben has a lot to be excited about as he was the first musician signed to legendary Sandi Patty’s record label – Stylos Records. While working on his debut project, he had the chance to collaborate with some of the finest in the industry including Sandi Patty herself, Jeremy Camp, Nathan Nockels and Mark Harris.  His self-titled album is definitely a heartfelt collection of songs.  Packed with a soulful sound and powerful lyrics, his album is simply awe-inspiring. 

Ben said it was almost foreshadowing and divine intervention that he ended up on Patty’s label.  A son of a Methodist minister, he grew up listening to Sandi Patty’s music. Plus his mom had sung Sandi’s music as long as he could remember.   In fact, his mom recently sent him a picture of when he was a little boy.  He was only 4 years old and was sitting on their couch with the piano behind him.  There was a Sandi Patty music book propped on the piano, and it looks like Sandi's eyes are just staring down on Ben. His mom attached a note to the picture that read, “God really does work in amazing ways.”  Fast forward to now, and he found himself performing at the “Sandi Patty & Friends” weekend at Nashville’s Gaylord Opryland Resort.  On the night of the February 5, 2010 opening event, Ben’s performance was outstanding, and Sandi said from the stage that Ben  had become like a son to she and her husband.  Sandi speaks very highly of Ben and his music and says that “He is really a singer in a football player’s body.”         

When asked what he’d say to inspire young athletes or musicians, Ben replied – “I would say never compromise who you really are.  I think often the peer pressure and things can have a major impact on us.  I was known as the person who went against the flow.  I think that was just in my nature.  I wasn’t a part of any cliques in high school because I didn’t need to be.  I grew up in a wonderful environment that gave my sister and I the wisdom at a young age to really have the strength to stand up for who you are. So I’d encourage them by saying don’t compromise who you are.  Be true to who you are, and I think you’ll be real surprised at how that breeds success.”

It's very refreshing to see someone of Ben's caliber who is so humble and grounded.  He's the real deal.  He has a strong Christian faith and although he goes through rocky times just like we all do, for him it’s just a matter of finding peace and balance while continuing to walk with the Lord on a daily basis.  Ben says “No matter how high the highs get or how low the lows get, God is always even keel.”

Recently the Lord spoke to his heart one day while he was working out.  Ben said he just heard the voice of God tell him “I didn’t just come to feed the full; I came to feed the hungry.  I didn’t come to heal the healthy; I came to heal the sick.  I need people in my prairies, but I need more in my battlefields.”  Ben definitely wants to be a positive, bright light in the battlefields.  In fact, he wants to start singing more classical/pop music as opposed to Contemporary Christian.  He wants to pour God’s love on people in mainstream entertainment.  That’s where he feels the Lord is leading him.  “The thing about the inspirational/classical/pop style is that it transcends the borders,” says Utecht. 

Ben and his wife Karyn, a former Miss Minnesota, both grew up in MN, but they currently live in Cincinnati, Ohio with their 11 month old daughter Elleora Grace.  To learn more about this multifaceted family man, visit his website – www.benutecht.com. 

We hope you will find a little bit of encouragement and inspiration in this section.