Reasons I Love, Admire, and want to be Luci Swindoll (almost)

“Verily, verily, I say unto you: thou shalt find a party at the end of this street. Turn not to the right nor the left, but direct your steps toward it. Great will be your fun upon arrival. Walk ye in Haste.”

Luci Swindoll wrote this “Bible” verse as a little girl. If you have never had the pleasure of seeing Luci Swindoll in person, you have missed out. For the last 4 years, I have been going to the Women of Faith conferences with the Women of Westside (yes, WoW goes to WoF), and while I love all the ladies there, Luci is my favorite. I think what fascinates me about her is that she is almost 72 years old, but she acts like she’s 22. The other thing that fascinates me about her is that she has never been married. She probably could have been married several times, but she made the choice to, as her book says, marry adventure. She has been to most every continent, including antarctica, she has been a professional singer for the Dallas Opera, a Vice President of Mobil Oil company, an author, a photographer, and a speaker. Now she travels the country with the Women of Faith team sharing her Biblical expertise and her incredible sense of humor and humanity.

I love Luci Swindoll.

In an interview with Christianity Today she had this to say, “Other than my relationship with Christ, friendship is the most important thing in my life. We only have so much time and energy, but friendship is worth it. Yet I also realize I’m a family of one, and it’s okay to be alone. In those times of solitude I really learn who I am—and how to give to others.”

I think what I love best about Luci Swindoll is that she encourages women to be who God made them to be. We don’t have to be “Suzy Churchwife.” We don’t have to the perfect Christian woman who holds all the (literal) qualities of Proverbs 31. She encourages us to be who God made us to be, holding true to the promises of salvation that He offers. She encourages us to grow in our relationship with God, to develop the qualities that we’ve talked about in previous weeks, but to never change who we are.

I think another reason I love Luci Swindoll is that I see me in her. She’s not a quiet woman. She’s not afraid to make random comments. She will sometimes crack an inappropriate joke. But I see in her such a love for her Savior, such a giving heart, that I cannot help but wish to be more like her, to one day have the impact that she has had.

What about you? Who do you admire? Who do you want to be when you grow up? I hope that you want to be you. Psalm 139:14 says, “I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made, my soul knows very well.” You were made in a holy moment. No matter the circumstances surrounding your conception (I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to know the details of when I was conceived. yeck.), you were made in a holy moment, because in that moment, God was at work. You were made in the image of God. The wonderful image of God. You are unique, you are special. Never be ashamed to be the person God created you to be. Tall, short, medium. Thin, fat, average. Quiet, loud, bossy, compliant, detailed, or unorganized. God wants, uses, and loves all. He is an equal opportunity savior.

And one day, if you do marry, the person that God supplies will love you for all the things you are. But maybe you won’t marry. That’s okay too. You can always be like Luci. She married adventure.

Oh, heavenly Father, we pray that we would be women who are open to your leading. That we too would marry the adventurous life you have set before us, whether we get married or not. Help us to be more and more like you each day. Set aside our concern for our wellbeing and replace it with a concern for your Church. We praise you, Oh Lord, for we are fearfully and wonderfully made!