New York Edition SHERLEY FLORIVAL
MAGAZINE
O
HDDEN
V 01
SEPT 2025
CONTENTS
HDDEN SEPT 2025
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There's nothing like living in your truth, being and embodying who you were meant to be.
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LETTER FROM EDITOR 14 Spirituality
Why your life is hidden in Christ
15 Dear Black Men
Book promotion of Dear Black Men, It's Me Sherley, A love Letter
16 Latest Worship Music Why worship is so vital, you'll be surprise what it does to demons
18.All about Spiritual Warfare
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The year of Comfort in, guess what city!
20 Relationships Love has done a roundabout
VOLUME NUMERO 1 22 I Know a Secret Secrets? Should I tell?
24 Enemies.
Black Men Series 02 B-Train runs
When an outing on the B-Train goes wrong
04 Advice Column. Asking for a friend
Why enemies are good for you.
9 Latest Film Critique
I love films, and the Emmy goes to. Check out the latest film critic.
11 Beauty Product Review We are reviewing Korean skincare
12 Mothering? What's it all
about ?
06 Haitian Legume Recipe You've never had this Legume from my mom's country of Lartibonite 2
FEATURE STORIES 26 Short Kings
Let's make short men trend
28 Love and Desire
I love love, and I absolutely want to be desired.
30 Authenticity Love who you are and love what you do, and the rest will care for otself
32 I love Black men.
A Black man just does it for me, their swag, strenght, personalities
COVER MODEL STORY
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Sherley Florival
:Move Over Carrie Bradshaw, Sherley Is Coming Through! When I asked God what was next for me, I wasn’t expecting an answer so clear. But one night, after haggling him for months in the stillness of my sleep, He gave it to me
As mothers what are lessons learned , that can be shared universally.
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How Do You Find Your Purpose?
Here are some ways to approach the journey:
Need Advice ? Email us at Hddenmagazi ne@aol.com 1. Listen to What Moves You Purpose often hides in the things that stir your heart — the subjects that make you lose track of time, the causes that bring tears to your eyes, the work you’d do even if you weren’t paid. Those aren’t random; they’re clues. Ask yourself: When was the last time I felt fully alive? The answer might point you toward your path. 2. Pay Attention to Your Gifts Your talents and strengths are not accidents. If you have a way with words, a knack for solving problems, or a gift for making people feel seen, that’s not random — it’s intentional. Purpose often lives at the intersection of what you’re good at and what the world needs 3. Serve Before You “Arrive” Many people wait until they have a grand revelation before acting. But purpose is clarified through movement, not before it. Volunteer. Help someone. Join a cause. Take the job that aligns with your values. Often, by showing up and serving, you’ll stumble right into your calling. 14
Advice Column
If there’s one question that has followed humanity through the ages, it’s this: “Why am I here?” We dress it in different words — What’s my calling? How do I know my path? How do I find my purpose? — but at its core, it’s a search for meaning. Finding your purpose isn’t like finding your keys. It’s not a sudden “Eureka!” moment for most people. Purpose is more like a sunrise: it appears slowly, almost imperceptibly, until suddenly you realize the whole sky is bright.
Velit qui aborrov idelluptati cusciet estio. Ed experi volo magnate dem latem quam fugiand ignimus, quatur ad ea poreptium.
r5. Don’t Rush the Process We live in a culture of speed, but purpose takes time. You might feel lost in your 20s, discover your calling in your 30s, and still see it evolve in your 50s. Give yourself permission to grow into it. You are allowed to change your mind and reinvent yourself as you learn. 6. Align With Something Greater Than Yourself For many, faith plays a central role in finding purpose. Believing that you are here by divine design brings comfort and clarity. Ask God for guidance. Pay attention to the doors He opens and the nudges He gives. Purpose is often revealed in the quiet moments when you’re willing to listen. 7. Remember That Purpose is Not a Job Title It’s easy to confuse purpose with a career. But your purpose is bigger than a paycheck — it’s the impact you make, the way you make people feel, the legacy you leave behind. Your job may change, but your deeper calling will remain.
4. Let Your Life Speak Author Parker Palmer says, “Before you tell your life what you intend to do with it, listen for what it intends to do with you.” Look at your life — your experiences, your struggles, your victories. Patterns emerge. You’ll start to see threads that have been weaving together all along.
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love has made a round about Love Has Made a Round About After Three Years
T
hree years is a long time to wander without love’s steady hand. Three years is long enough for the seasons to shift twelve times, for the heart to forget the sound of its own laughter, for hope to grow quiet in the corners of the soul.
And healing was not passive—it was work. It was crying out to God in the early hours when the silence felt heavy. It was learning to sit alone without feeling lonely. It was discovering joy in my own company. It was surrendering my timeline, my plans, and my idea of love to the One who created it.
I remember the way I once loved. Head over heels doesn’t even begin to describe it. I believed I had found the one. I envisioned forever with my ex-boyfriend—weddings, children, shared dreams, and a life built hand-in-hand. My heart had wrapped itself around his so tightly that I couldn’t imagine a future without him.
Over time, I didn’t just heal—I became. I stepped into the woman God had always seen. A woman who knows her worth, who loves herself enough to wait for love that is holy and aligned. A woman who is not desperate for love but ready to give it freely when it’s from the right source. A woman who no longer sees God’s “no” as a rejection, but as redirection toward something far better than she could have imagined. Now, after three years, love has made a round about. It didn’t come rushing back, breathless and apologetic. It came gently, like a sunrise over calm waters, bringing warmth without hurry. And as it returned, I realized—it wasn’t just that love had found me again. I had found me.
But God saw what I could not. And intime, His mercy, He said no. At the it felt like rejection—like a cruel ripping away of the only future I thought I wanted. I prayed for the relationship to work. I bargained. I tried to hold on tighter. Yet no matter how hard I grasped, it slipped from my fingers. What I didn’t understand then was that God wasn’t punishing me—He was protecting me. He was saying, Daughter, this is not your portion. After the breakup, I didn’t immediately see it as divine redirection. All I felt was the ache. The loneliness. The questions that haunted me at night: Was I not enough? Did I mess it up? How do you heal from something you were so sure about? The next three years became my wilderness. I had to heal, but not in a quick, “move on” kind of way. I had to go deep. I had to let God show me who I was outside of someone else’s love. I had to peel back the layers of false identity that had formed when I defined myself through another person.
I now understand that love doesn’t always leave because it’s broken; sometimes it leaves so that you can be rebuilt. Sometimes God allows it to walk away so you can grow into the person who can carry the kind of love He’s always intended for you. Three years ago, I thought I had lost everything. Today, I see I have gained more than I ever could have asked for— clarity, strength, identity, and a love that is rooted first in God and then in me.
Love has made its round about, and this time, I am ready—not because I am waiting for someone to complete me, but because I am already whole.
23 HDDEN MAGAZINE
HDDEN MAGAZINE
COVER MODEL 16
Move Over Carrie Bradshaw, Sherley Is Coming Through!
When I asked God what was next for me, I
wasn’t expecting an answer so clear. But one night, after haggling him for months in the stillness of my sleep, He gave it to me: Harlem, New York. Not whispered. Not implied. Written—bold, bright, and undeniable. I woke up with the kind of clarity that makes your heart race. God had spoken. New York! Says I! God, are you serious? I really had my heart set on going back to Miami and living it up like I used to. Going to the beach, Key West, South Beach, Lincoln Road Mall. There’s tons to do there and I was ready. I really was in shock! Because honestly, New York had not crossed my consciousness. It reminds me of this scripture… For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways”, Isaiah 55:8 I knew exactly what I had to do. But first, I needed confirmation as usual. So I told my son, who was not happy at the idea, and told him not to share it with anyone, and he did not. Weeks later, a friend of mine comes to town and we are conversing over dinner and in mid conversation he says “ I thought you would move to New York!” What? Adonai, did you tell him? No mom, I did not, almost choking on his burger as we both looked at each other wondering how did you know this? Welp, here goes my confirmation. Nevertheless, this time around I didn’t need a second confirmation because I knew that I would of neva, neva, eva chosen the city of New York to start over at the ripe age of 44. With nothing but faith packed in my suitcase and dreams stitched into every seam, I boarded a flight to New York City. No five-year plan. No flashy career offer. Just a divine calling and a journal filled with visions. As the wheels touched down at Laguardia, I felt it—this wasn’t just a move; it was a mandate.
FRONT ROW-
So yes—Carrie had her moment. But Sherley? She’s walking in hers. Not in Manolos, but in authority. Not chasing columns, but calling. Not just writing about the city—but writing a legacy in it. And trust me, the best is still unwritten.
This isn’t just my story. It’s a call to every woman wondering what’s next. It’s a reminder that when you surrender your plans for God’s, you’ll find yourself in rooms you never imagined, writing chapters you didn’t see coming.
- SHERLEY FLORIVAL
HARLEM WAS WAITING FOR ME I’d watched women like Carrie Bradshaw strut the streets of Manhattan with designer shoes and designer lives. But I wasn’t here to write about shoes or sex. I came to write about purpose. About the hidden life that blooms in silence and obedience. About being a woman whose story didn’t begin on the Upper East Side but in the secret place—where dreams are planted by the hand of God Himself. New York didn’t just become my address —it’s becoming my altar. The pavement became holy ground. The city lights? A reflection of the Light that guided me here. And Harlem? Oh, Harlem. It’s where I found rhythm. It’s where purpose met platform. Every block holds a story. Every brownstone feels like legacy. And somewhere between Lenox Avenue and 125th Street, I stopped asking 17 for a sign and started becoming one.
SHERLEY FLORIVAL
Staying Close Without Smothering Your bond will look different now. The affection and connection are still there, but they may be expressed in new ways — shared coffee runs, sending encouraging texts, supporting their passions, and showing up for their milestones. The goal is to remain a trusted presence, not an overbearing shadow. When they know you trust them, they’re more likely to come to you when life gets overwhelming.
“Mothering an
18-Year-Old: Loving Through the Shift”
The Emotional Side Mothering at this stage can be emotional. There’s pride in seeing the adult they’re becoming, but also a quiet ache for the child they once were. Give yourself permission to feel both. It’s normal to grieve the closing of one chapter while celebrating the start of another.
ADONAI MAKAIO FLORIVAL Circa 25 8
Balancing Freedom and Boundaries Eighteen-year-olds crave independence, but independence without boundaries can quickly Motherhood is a journey marked turn into chaos. As a mother, your by constant change. From the first challenge is to set clear expectations without cry in the delivery room to the micromanaging. This might mean: first day of school, every season • Agreeing on household brings new joys and challenges. responsibilities But there’s something uniquely • Discussing curfews or bittersweet about mothering an safety expectations without 18-year-old — your child is legally treating them like a child an adult, standing on the edge of • Encouraging them to independence, yet still tethered to manage their own schedule, you in ways that matter deeply. finances, and commitments The key is to shift from enforcing rules to having mutual agreements. This fosters respect and prepares them for life beyond your home
Communication is Everything Mothering an 18-year-old means trading lectures for conversations. They no longer respond well to commands — they need dialogue. Ask questions that invite them to think, rather than statements that tell them what to do. Instead of: “You need to get a job.” Try: “What’s your plan for earning money this summer?” This subtle shift respects their adulthood while keeping the door open for guidance.
Letting Them Take the Wheel One of the most loving things you can do for an 18-year-old is to let them feel the weight of their own choices. They will mess up. They will learn. And while it’s tempting to rescue them, remember: resilience is built in the struggle. You can still be a safety net — emotionally and relationally — without cushioning every consequence.
Final Thoughts An 18-year-old doesn’t need less of you — they need you differently. You’re no longer building their foundation; you’re helping them build their own. Love them fiercely, guide them gently, and trust that the seeds you’ve planted over the years will grow in their own time. Mothering an 18-year-old is about believing in who they are becoming — and letting them see you believe it.
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Title: Short Kings: Why Height Doesn’t Measure a Man Let’s just get this out of the way: being short is not a flaw. It’s not a weakness. It’s not something to be “overcome” or “compensated for.” What Society Needs to Hear It is, quite simply, height. And last Dear society: Height is not a we checked, character isn’t personality trait. measured in inches. Repeat it. Memorize it. So why the outdated slander? Why the Tattoo it if necessary. Women aren’t choosing short kings jokes, the memes, the side-eye when a “despite” their height. We’re choosing 5'7" man walks in with full confidence and good credit? We’re done with that. them because they’re present, real, and secure enough not to lead with ego. In fact, it’s time to set the record That’s what confidence looks like—not straight: how tall you stand, but how grounded you are. Short men are the new standard!!!! ___________________________________ _____ Short Men Are the New Gold Standard Let’s Talk Stats (and Swagger) That’s right. Some of the world’s most impactful, Short men are the new tall, dark, and powerful, and magnetic men stood handsome. below the six-foot cultural obsession. Height didn’t stop them. Why? Because Short men are the new “CEO energy.” Short men are the new safe space, height doesn’t define leadership, work ethic, loyalty, or the ability to make you support system, best friend, and lover in one. laugh until your stomach hurts on a They walk into rooms with quiet power. random Tuesday. ___________________________________ They don’t need to look down on you— Character > Inches they’ll stand next to you and lift you up. _ Let’s . break the illusion: A tall man can still be immature. Final Word: Elevate the King, Not the A tall man can ghost you. Height A tall man can treat you like an afterthought. So the next time someone jokes about Meanwhile, the short king might be the one a man’s height, pause. Ask yourself: who: • Plans the date and pays for dinner. What are you actually measuring? • Shows up on time. Because if we’re measuring integrity, • Listens, actually listens. loyalty, effort, empathy, humor, and • Has ambition, emotional depth, emotional maturity, AND solid communication skills. (Whew.) then short kings are already miles Short men don’t have to try to be “tall.” Their presence speaks louder than their platform ahead. shoes ever could. ___________________________________ ________________________________________ _____
“Make it go viral: #ShortKingEnergy #HeightDoesntDefineHim #StandTallShortKing Let the world know: 10 The throne isn’t reserved for the tallest—just the most worthy ”
LETTER TO SHORT BLACK MEN My Unshakable One, et me remind you of something this world has tried to make you forget: greatness has never been measured in inches. They have told you that height is power, that stature defines strength. But what they will never say, because they fear it, is that the greatest men in history were never made by the length of their limbs, but by the fire in their souls. And you, my beloved, are already standing tall. Your presence is not small. Your impact is not small. Your power, your wisdom, your ability to command a room, none of these things have ever been tied to your height. I know the world has made you doubt yourself. I know they have tried to make you feel less than, tried to shrink you with their words, tried to tell you that a Black man must be towering to be respected. But hear me now, kings are not measured by the reach of their hands, but by the weight of their spirit. L 76 Dear Black Men, It’s Me, Sherley Wasn’t David smaller than Goliath? Yet it was David Wasn’t Malcolm X a man of average height? Yet his voice made empires tremble. Didn’t they say Napoleon was too short to lead? Yet his name still echoes in history. Do not let them fool you into believing that the height of your frame determines the height of your destiny. Your confidence, your intellect, your ambition, your drive, these are the things that make you unforgettable. The right people will see you for what you are: a man who walks with certainty, whose presence fills the room, whose energy speaks before he ever utters a word. Walk boldly, my king. Let your posture speak before your mouth does. Let your purpose make them forget what they thought mattered. Let your presence remind them that the tallest trees still bow before the storm, but a strong-rooted man, he never wavers. You are not small. You were never small. And you never will be. With love, honor, and respect, I need you to hear me, not just with your ears, but with your spirit: You are enough. Just as you are. In every wa
Your confidence should not be borrowed from what others think of you. It should not be something you put on like a suit when the world is watching and take off when you are alone. Your confidence is your birthright. Own it. Walk in it. A man who knows himself, who moves with certainty, who stands firm in his spirit—he commands attention before he speaks. Don’t worry about your height, it matters not for we are the same height laying down. Confidence is not in height, it is in posture. Confidence is not in money, it is in mindset. Confidence is not in validation, it is in knowing who you are. Do you know what makes a Black man unforgettable? It is not how tall he stands, but how deeply he believes in himself. It is not the car he drives, but the energy that follows him when he enters a room. It is not how much he has, but how much he knows his own worth. You do not have to compete. You do not have to prove yourself to people who are blind to your brilliance. You do not have to shrink to fit into spaces that were never built for you in the first place. Take up your space. Fill the room. Be undeniable. And when you walk, walk like the earth was made for your footsteps. Because it was. With admiration, respect, and love, Sherley
LETTER TO SHORT BLACK MEN My Unshakable One 11
Welcome to HDDN Magazine — where the “hidden things are being made manifest” Marck 4:22, and where every page is a testament to truth, beauty, and the power of authenticity. When I dreamed of HDDN, I envisioned more than a publication. I saw a sanctuary. A place where stories could breathe without fear of being misunderstood. A platform where voices — especially those often silenced — could rise, unfiltered and unashamed. Inspired by Colossians 3:3, our heartbeat is simple yet profound: “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” In these pages, you’ll find fashion that is not only stylish, but spiritual — an expression of identity and culture. You’ll encounter conversations about love and marriage that go deeper than vows and rings, exploring the sacred work of connection. You’ll read about self-expression and authenticity as spiritual acts, acts that bring us closer to the truth of who we are and the God who made us. We are not afraid to wrestle with hard truths or celebrate the quiet victories. We speak to the dreamers, the seekers, the creators, and the healers. We explore lifestyle not as a collection of trends, but as a reflection of purpose. Every issue is a tapestry of voices, perspectives, and visions — all stitched together by the belief that what is hidden can still be holy, powerful, and necessary. Whether it’s a personal story, a profile of a changemaker, a reflection on faith, or a visual spread that takes your breath away, our aim is the same: to inspire you to live boldly, love deeply, and show up fully as the person you were created to be. HDDN Magazine is for those who have felt unseen and for those ready to be seen in their truest light. It’s for you. It’s for us. It’s for the collective story we are writing together. So turn the page. Read slowly. Let the words and images sit with you. And remember — sometimes the most wonderful things are the ones hidden until made manifest.
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VOLUME 0127 | ISSUE 056
DITOR’S LETTER
SHERLEY SHERLEY FLORIVAL Editor-In-Chief
HDDEN MAGAZINE
Why It’s Good to Have Enemies: A Biblical Perspective on Divine Warfare 1. Enemies Train Us for Battle “Now these are the nations which the Lord left, to prove Israel by them… only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof.” — Judges 3:1-2 (KJV)
God deliberately left certain enemy nations in the land to teach Israel the art of war. Imagine that—God could have removed all opposition, but instead, He allowed it to remain. Why? Because peace without preparation makes a people soft. Israel needed to learn how to fight, not just for territory, but for identity. They had to know the sound of battle before they could walk fully in their calling.
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In the same way, God often allows opposition in our lives—not to punish us, but to prepare us. The enemy trains your discernment. The betrayal teaches you boundaries. The warfare for your mind sharpens your sword. Without an enemy, we’d have no reason to learn how to war in the Spirit.
2. Enemies Reveal the Power of God “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies…” — Psalm 23:5 (NKJV) David didn’t say God removed the enemies before blessing him—he said God blessed him right in front of them. When God allows you to go through a battle and you come out victorious, it becomes undeniable who brought you out. Enemies become the audience to your breakthrough. He blesses you in front of them. Why? Because enemies don’t block the blessing—they highlight it. The Red Sea didn’t part until Pharaoh’s army was breathing down Israel’s neck. Goliath didn’t fall until David stood before him. Sometimes, your enemy is the very stage God uses to show His strength through you.
N3. Enemies Position You for Promotion “The Lord your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes.” — Deuteronomy 1:30 (NKJV) Every great promotion in the Bible is preceded by a battle. The enemy is often the final barrier before a breakthrough. The walls of Jericho didn’t fall without a fight. Joseph didn’t rise to power in Egypt without betrayal. Jesus didn’t rise in glory without first enduring the cross. Your enemy is often a sign that you’re close. Close to elevation. Close to promise. Close to purpose. And when you win—when you stand firm and let God fight through you—you don’t just gain victory. You gain authority.
Enemies are uncomfortable. They challenge our peace, disturb our routines, and force us to confront parts of ourselves we might otherwise ignore. But what if enemies are actually necessary? What if, from a biblical perspective, they’re not just allowed—but assigned? Designed to strengthen us, mature us, draw us closer to God and strengthen our spiritual authority?
“God is handing you your enemies territory” Sherley Florival
4. Enemies Refine Your Character “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you…” — Matthew 5:44 (NKJV) Enemies don’t just test your strength— they test your heart. Jesus calls us not only to overcome opposition, but to love those who oppose us. That’s not weakness—it’s the highest form of spiritual maturity. The process of dealing with enemies reveals who we really are. It teaches humility, patience, forgiveness, and boundaries. It shows us how to hold our peace when we’d rather retaliate. It presses us into the presence of God for grace we wouldn’t need in times of peace. In the end, your enemy doesn’t just help you win a battle—they help shape your character into the image of Christ. Jesus didn’t just defeat His enemies— He forgave them. That level of grace doesn’t come naturally; it comes from spiritual maturity. And spiritual maturity often develops in the presence of adversity. Enemies test your heart. They expose your flesh. They make you choose between revenge and righteousness. And in that tension, your character is shaped. You become more like Christ— not just a warrior, but a worshiper with a heart molded by grace. Final Thoughts: The Blessing of the Battle From a biblical and spiritual standpoint, enemies are not a curse—they're a catalyst. They teach us war, reveal God’s power, prepare us for promotion, and mold us into the likeness of Christ. God never allows an enemy without providing the tools to overcome them. If you're surrounded, take heart—God may just be teaching your hands to war and your fingers to fight (Psalm 144:1). And when it’s over, you won’t just walk in victory. You’ll walk in identity. “Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle.” — Psalm 144:1 (NKJV) Enemies may come, but with God on your side, victory is not just possible— it’s promised. Because every enemy God allows is one He already plans to conquer—through you.
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HEAVENLY FATHER
VOLUME NUMERO 1
We thank You for being the Author of every season and the Keeper of every transition. Today, we lift up those who are stepping into something new — a new chapter, a new opportunity, a new version of themselves. Lord, as they walk into unfamiliar territory, cover them with Your peace that surpasses understanding. Remind them that though the path may be uncharted, it is not unknown to You. Give them courage to release what no longer serves them, patience to grow in the waiting, and faith to trust Your hand when they cannot see Your plan. May they embrace newness not with fear, but with expectation. May they see change not as loss, but as an invitation to become more of who You created them to be.
Bless their steps with clarity, their hearts with joy, and their spirits with endurance. May they bloom where You are planting them, and may every beginning remind them that You are faithful to carry them through. In Jesus’ only name we pray, Amen.