Hi friends:
I have the most entertaining financial advisors on the planet. They are aging hippies and raging radicals who cuss like sailors, adore each other, constantly bicker, hop on their soap boxes, and are truly brilliant experts on investments, taxes, and all things money related. Evaluating my tight budget and financial decisions as a single woman with them feels like being dropped into a hilarious sitcom.
Their son is a vehement atheist and rationalist—there’s no God, no miracles, nothing supernatural, and everything has a simple explanation. Jim and Clare respond: "Then how do you explain Linda?" (A question many people ask, but for various reasons 😉). They know exactly how little money I have, how far I stretch it, and that it's still in my account after I return from incredible journeys. They can’t wait to hear about my adventures, and even though they would not claim to be Christians, they attest beyond any shadow of a doubt that this is obviously God. They’re supposedly retiring, but they want to keep me. They say they love me, but I think I might just be comic relief for them. 😊
My friend Aaron says there is a private Facebook page called “How do you explain Linda?”
My mother used to say, “I can't rest until someone is taking care of you". In other words, “Quit running around and get married!" Then one day she said, “You could have easily been married, but you didn’t want to settle.” Darn tootin”! Then, “It's very obvious that Someone is taking care of you.” Yup. You noticed. “You really have the best life of all of us”. I’d agree with that conclusion.
With great respect for the amazing men I know, I often think of the words of an older missionary at our church. A clueless person asked, “Do you grieve the fact that God didn't let you get married?” She didn’t miss a beat and immediately replied, “Heavens, no!! No man would ever let me do all that God has allowed me to experience!”
I have dated wonderful men and been in love more than a few times, but God has not taken me down the path of wife and mother. I love Lucy Swindoll’s book I Married Adventure, sharing how God gave her a rich and colorful life of friendships, travel, music, diverse cultures, photography, exploration, and powerful ministry.
I am so grateful for such good men who surround me with love, laughter, friendship, fathering, brothering, support, and camaraderie. I love being the “third adult” or “fun aunt” to so many children all over the world who love Goodtime Linda even when she speaks with a weird Kentucky/Chicago/English/Australian accent. Especially when she bakes cookies. When my friends have misplaced me, they know I have found a big dog or a little kid.
“Jesus said, ‘Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel's sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.’” (Mark 10:29-30)
(Don’t miss that little phrase Jesus tucks in there: “along with persecutions”.)
I have to navigate a lot of hurdles, struggles, illness, and pain. And I walk through some of the darkest valleys with people all around the world. It’s a challenging and often lonely path, but I can honestly say I love my life.
Kathleen created Psalm One around me, and has been our gracious hostess, faithful partner, and generous main donor since Day One. Because of the faithful support and kindness of others we have been able to continue until this summer. But we will be closing down Psalm One Ministries in September after over 26 years of inviting people to follow Jesus with their head, heart, and hands.
I am struggling with grief, heartache, sadness, and many tears at the end of an era.
I am rejoicing as I picture the faces of thousands of men and women who have come to know Jesus and His Word in a deeper way for so many years.
I am grateful for a wonderful partnership with Kathleen that reached out from her beautiful oasis in Oregonia, Ohio to circle the globe.
I am anticipating new celebration and freedom in the next chapter of life.
And I don't think God is quite finished with me yet.
The Lord can use teaching, spiritual direction, speaking, soul care retreats, counseling, coaching, discipleship, facilitating, and consulting, but I believe He can also use travel, adventures, photography, writing, relationships, divine appointments, wacky encounters with people and animals, and endless whispers from El Roi—The God Who Sees. God has a tremendous sense of humor, is endlessly creative, inexplicably loving, and has not let go of my hand yet.
“Your ears will hear a word behind you, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right or to the left.” (Isaiah 30:21)
I'm still exploring those three questions from my life-saving and life-giving 2022 sabbatical:
What is my voice?
Who is my family?
Where is my home?
“You will never be completely at home again, because part of your heart always will be elsewhere. That is the price you pay for the richness of loving and knowing people in more than one place.” (Miriam Adeney)
God has taken a little girl who thought she'd never cross the border of Indiana, and flung me all over the planet. So I need time with my family in my beloved homes in Ohio, Australia, England, Maui, Scotland, Ireland, New Zealand, Canada, Italy, Kenya…plus wherever God might add to the itinerary of my crazy life. I am trusting the Lord to direct, provide, protect, and give me his marching orders.
I plan to serve God until He takes me home. My real home. “If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.” (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity)
I want to be open to the divine appointments and delightful encounters God has in store.
I need to be in--or at least near--the sea as often as possible. I am a mermaid who comes alive in the ocean. Ohio has a severe shortage of oceanfront property.
I need to be with my Tribe. People who are Family, even if we don’t share blood. I need genuine family.
I am Doctor Doolittle, the Animal Whisperer, and I need lots of close encounters with creatures who have fur, fins, feathers, flippers, and fangs. I know not to approach wildlife, but wildlife doesn't know not to approach me. I am often face-to-face with big bitey things. And that makes me so happy. I also need dogs. Lots of dogs. Big dogs.
I am a photographer who is grateful for opportunities to capture God’s astounding creation underwater, on land, in the air, all around the world. I’m praying that God will open a means to sell my photography. To share my Scripture Pictures. To subsidize my “retirement” with a bit of extra income. (I welcome suggestions and connections with people who know what they’re doing.)
I need to keep telling His story. And my story.
“Tell your story.
Shout it.
Write it.
Whisper it if you have to.
But tell it.
Some won't understand it.
Some will outright reject it.
But many will thank you for it.
And then the most magical thing will happen.
One by one, voices will start whispering, 'Me, too.'
And your tribe will gather.
And you will never feel alone again.”
(L.R. Knost)
Please pray for me as I keep telling my story.
How do you explain Linda? It’s a God Thing.
Much love,
Linda
Adventure Lies Ahead:
Some of you have already come along as we’ve explored Italy, Ireland, Costa Rica, Maui, the Big Island, Kenya, Australia, New Zealand, England…
If you would like to pray for me on my journeys and receive photos, videos, and stories from the road, reply with “Adventure”.
If you asked to come along, but have not seen any photos yet, be sure you have connected with me on WhatsApp, and I have confirmed that you are in my carry on.
If you want to see the whale sharks (my next bucket list item. squeeeeeee!), mantas, octopuses, quokkas, kangaroos, koalas, kookaburras, and whatever else I find, you need to be packed in my carry-on before June 28.
Our Next Adventures:
Australia!!!!!
I’ll be in the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Perth, Ningaloo, Sydney, Crookwell… Maybe a few other places.
If you want to see me while I’m in your neighborhood, be sure to let me know. I have places to go, things to do, and people (and animals) to see! I don’t want to miss out.
I’m currently homeless for part of my time in Sydney (Western suburbs). If you have a spare room and are willing to take me off the street or know of an affordable place to rent, please let me know.
I already have a few ministry events in place. These are open to anyone. Let me know if you want to be in the loop with details.
July 26
Preaching at Rouse Hill Baptist Church
Soul Care Day of Refreshing for MEN and Women
August 16
Sydney Women’s Event
New Zealand!!!!!
I’ll be in Auckland, then down around Christchurch and Kaikōura…
September 4-6 (Labor Day weekend)
Online Conference for Pastors’ Wives (in the States or anywhere)
Challenges of Being a Woman in Church Ministry (or something like that… Waiting for final instructions.)
Sisterhood of the Fishbowl--Thursday nights at 7:30 pm Eastern Time
We ARE continuing, but with new links.
Be sure you are in the loop if you would like to receive the info and updated links. https://www.psalmone.org/pastors-wives
Stay tuned. More details soon…