The footprints of Christos in my life: the astounding discovery of the transformational power of silence at the first retreat I attended in 1995 … tasting the intimacy of the mystical love of Jesus in the writings of St. Teresa of Avila as taught by Joann Nesser (founder of Christos)… the call to spiritual direction coming through the question of a friend who said, “Have you ever considered becoming a spiritual director….?”  I hadn’t…it was all new.  I have come to realize (as someone has said) that “being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person they are almost indistinguishable.”  This sacred listening is spiritual direction.  So for more than thirty years I’ve had the privilege of offering spiritual direction to individuals and for several years I have had the privilege of training others to do spiritual direction as well as being a presenter for Tending the Holy.

When I was asked to consider being on the Christos board I was deeply honored to say “yes” and move to yet another role within Christos … a role that includes discernment, leadership and prayer. 

ABOUT LINDA:

Rev. Linda Richardson has B.A. and M.A. degrees from California State University and for many years worked with preschool children with autism.  Simultaneously Linda co-led college student ministries and churches with her husband, and for over 30 years was involved in jail ministry.  The Enneagram and the Ignatian Exercises have been very formative in her life.  She was ordained to the Anglican priesthood and served as associate rector of Church of the Savior in Wheaton, IL, until she retired six years ago.  Linda was trained as a spiritual director through Christos, continues to serve as a spiritual director and served as a Tending the Holy coordinator and presenter.  She is now a Christos Board member.