About Me

My photo
Recent retiree--35 year's experience teaching reading, English, adult basic education and volunteer leadership skills. Started this blog to exchange ideas and commentary with friends and others having an interest in joining the discussions. Greatest life accomplishments include: 1.organized my 3rd grade class to check out library books for me to get around librarian's weekly limit--Amazon.com, the Mullins Elementary 3rd Grade Class of 1956 is still waiting for "thank you" notes; 2. volunteered in the Peace Corps, island of St. Kitts, West Indies; 3.taught adults to read, earn their GEDs., and speak English as a second language; 4. bought a border collie puppy for $6, got evicted rather than give him up, and began a life-long love affair with all things "Dog"; 5. joined a physical fitness boot camp in my mid-50s--don't mess with someone who's been doing regulation pushups in wet grass at 5:30 a.m.; 6. walked across Northern England with best friend Sally--over 80 miles from the Irish to North Seas; and 7. travelled to many foreign countries for pleasure and work.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Fun Monday - Dinner with Luci


The GA Girls at In Good Company continue their hosting duties for March. The assignment for the 21st could turn out to be quite revealing. Their question: if you could invite five people over to your place for dinner and conversation, who would be on the guest list and what would be some questions you'd want to ask? Well GA Girls, I'm one of those introverts who like and appreciate people a great deal, but find being around most anyone for any amount of time a bit challenging. So, if it's all right with you, I'll just invite Luci Swindoll, author, motivational speaker and adventurer.

Do you know of people--or are you that person--whose friends and associates are always trying to help you with your spiritual life? I'm one of them. I've had work colleagues ask me if I'm on good terms with Jesus. I've had people come to my door trying to save my soul like the couple of Jehovah Witnesses who came knocking one Sunday afternoon and asking me if I thought we would ever have world peace. Before closing the door firmly, I replied that I really hadn't planned to deal with world peace this particular Sunday afternoon. I just hoped to read the Sunday papers! And then there's this long running joke among some of my friends. If we're traveling together, they don't want to room with me because if the Rapture should come that night, I'll surely be left behind. They'd feel badly, but they're leaving without me!

I guess to make up for "leaving me behind" one friend from this group gave me Luci Swindoll's memoir, I Married Adventure-Looking at Life Through the Lens of Possibility. Right away I totally identified with this unlikely woman. Her approach to living was so close to my own. From an early age she loved learning, beauty in all its forms from music to art to literature, traveling the world. Luci also had her demons--how could an unconventional daughter please a conventional mother? how would she find work that was meaningful, but still provided enough financial resources to live without fear? how to live single in a married world? how to find peace and contentment as she aged? These were the important challenges I also wrangled with all my life. I felt such a kinship with this woman.

Now here's the ironic twist to this tale. Luci Swindoll comes from a family whose members have always been involved in Christian ministry, including her brother Chuck's radio ministry, Insight for Living. Luci was his VP for Public Relations for five years after spending 30 years in the corporate world as a Mobil Oil Company executive. Now she is a wildly popular keynote speaker and author with Women of Faith Ministries. I heard her speak in Chicago a few years ago and she didn't disappoint. I'd still have her as an honored dinner guest. I'd have questions about faith and soul work, but I'd also want to know about her life adventures and what she was looking forward too.

Asking her questions may be a bit difficult based on this video, but there would be guaranteed laughter:




And yes, for sure Luci and I would have dessert because life is uncertain but always an adventure!

9 comments:

Pamela said...

what a funny interview. Ended well, anyway!

Molly said...

Luci certainly is quite a character. I imagine he two of you would have a delightful dinner conversation.

Jan n Jer said...

LOL...she sounds like a fun dinner guest! I admire people who live their lives and embrace the world they live in. Its a gift from God...why not enjoy it!!! We spend so much time worrying about what other people think and this takes up so much time n space in our heads. Life is all about doing the right thing for ourseleves. Great post Faye!

Jan n Jer said...

Sorry...cant spell anymore...ourselves is correct..right??? I get nervous with all you teachers.LOL

Sayre said...

Funny woman - I love people like that! And I agree with her - stupid questions!!! What do they think they will learn about her with questions like that? I think when you have her over for dinner, you won't interview her - conversation will just flow naturally and you'll learn a lot more tht way!

Good Company said...

What a Hoot she would be! No other guests would be needed--they would probably feel intimiated anyway :) You better get some really good questions lined up!! Or better yet, let her do all the talking--seems like she is good at that :)

I used to tune into Joyce Meyers in the morning. Loved her no nonsense way of living a Christian life. No excuses...just do it.

Roger Miller said...

Excellent choice, and thank you for sharing about someone that I had never heard of before.

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

What a fun lady. Thanks for that, it was brilliant.

Living Life said...

I have heard of this woman, Lucci. After watching the video clip, I too wouldn't mind having her over for dinner. She is a hoot!!