Lynn Pinkham
My
name is Lynn Pinkham, I am affectionately known as Smidgit or
LilMite. I was born in Oakland, Maine, oldest of 4 children. Raised
in a low socio-economic family. My siblings and I lived with my
maternal grandparents from the time I was in the 3rd grade until I
was in the 7th grade.
As a child I attended the Oakland Church of the Nazarene, where I
participated in the Bible Quiz Teams, and was crowned Queen of
Vacation Bible School 3 years in a row. I became a blood washed
child of God in 1989.
I have two children I gave birth to, and 3 step-children. I also
have 16 grandchildren.
By profession I have been an LPN, Central Receptionist,and
paralegal. I graduated the Maine School of Practical Nursing School
in 1979, voluntarily relinquishing that license in 1988. I also
worked for the Maine State Department of Education as the Central
Receptionist for about 4 years. I graduated from New York Institute
of Technology in 1996.
Currently I am on disability, and unable to work in any profession
outside of my home. However, I do run a business from my home, and
am living proof that a disability does not mean you can not still be
productive and have an influence on those around you.
I am the founder and CEO of LOGIC Ministry. I am available for
various speaking engagements such as seminars, retreats, workshops,
or other women’s ministry events.
I am a Christian author of three books; "Eclipse to Sunrise",
Published in 2004, "Moments of Contemplation", Published in 2007,
"Memoirs of My Grandmother", Published in 2008.
I am currently working on "Legacy of Faith" and "The Pendulum
Swings". I am trying my hand at Children's books, currently
semi-hemi working on "The Elephant and The Cricket".
I am married to Henry D. Pinkham (Hank), we reside in Whitefield,
Maine. We retired here from NY in 1997, when Hank retired from over
25 years in the Sheriff's Department where he held position as
Lieutenant. We are so much happier in Maine than we were in NY.
Hank has three lovely daughters, while I have a handsome son and
lovely daughter, between us we have several precious, and beautiful
grandchildren.
http://www.lynnpinkham.com
PageOneLit.com:
Where did you grow up and was reading and writing a part of your life?
Who were your earliest influences and why?
Lynn Pinkham: I grew up in a rural community in Central Maine, the
oldest of four children. My maternal grandmother read to me and taught
me how to read before I entered school. I had my first library card when
I was only 4 years old, and was constantly at the library reading. Our
church had Missionary books and I would read them to my younger
siblings, and my cousin.
I actually began to be interested in writing while I was in the 6th
grade. In High School I took creative writing classes. One of the
stories I wrote was published in our School newspaper as the featured
story.
I believe my earliest influence for reading was my maternal grandmother
because she would animate the characters as she was reading. My paternal
step-grandmother has dynamic impact on my life as far as my writing and
my faith in God. She would encourage me to express myself with word
pictures and to be creative. She also taught me that I had to be true to
my own style of writing and not to allow others to dissuade me from my
abilities.
PageOneLit.com: Why do you write?
Lynn Pinkham:I love to be creative with words, to tell stories that
others can relate to and find some comfort and strength from. Part of my
purpose in writing is to show others that no matter what their lives
situation, they too can live productive lives, rich with faith in Jesus
Christ. Another reason I write is because it is therapeutic for me to do
so.
PageOneLit.com: "Memoirs of My Grandmother", is a unique daily
devotional about the legacy of faith which your Grandmother left you
through her example of what a true Christian should be. Briefly discuss
your grandmother and your relationship with her?
Lynn Pinkham: Grammy was a wise woman who used life's examples to teach
valuable object lessons for practical every day living. She often used
humor to make a point. Grammy trusted God explicitly for her every need,
and relied on God in even the most difficult situations she faced. I
loved and respected my Grammy, perhaps more than any other adult in my
life while growing up. In many ways I tried to emulate my Grammy's
character and quality into my own life. I was very close to my Grammy,
and felt accepted by her.
PageOneLit.com: In "Memoirs of My Grandmother" one essay titled THE
PARADE, you write that we can not grow spiritually as an observer -
Explain.
Lynn Pinkham: I think perhaps that the easiest way to explain that is to
first quote for you a scripture. "But be ye doers of the word, and not
hearers only, deceiving your own selves." (James 1:22 KJV) We are
exhorted in God's Word to do not just hear. If we are only going through
life watching other Christians and not participating in our own
relationship with God we can not grow spiritually, we will stagnate. Let
me put it this way, If you see a babbling brook flowing over the rocks
and moving you know that water is fresh (usually, unless it is
contaminated in some way). On the other hand if you have a standing body
of water such as a swimming pool which is allowed to just sit there
without the pump running to keep the water moving it stagnates and
becomes green and slimy. We can not watch life pass us, we must
participate in life particularly our spiritual lives.
PageOneLit.com: "Eclipse to Sunrise", shows your journey through mental
illness, and your reconciliation of that illness with your faith in God.
Discuss and explain. You were diagnosed in 1998 with Bi-Polar Disorder,
Schizo-Affective Disorder and PTSS. Explain what that disorder was for
those that don't know.
Lynn Pinkham:
First of all allow me to explain what my mental illness is. Bi-Polar
disorder is a chemical imbalance in my brain which causes me to have
very extreme highs and lows. When I am depressed I am extremely
depressed, incapable of taking care of my daily needs, even to the point
of being suicidal. When I am manic, my thoughts race with what seems
like a million thoughts happening at one time and I am unable to capture
and hold onto one thought at a time. Also with mania, it is accompanied
with feelings of invisibility, grandiose thinking, excessive spending
sprees, (I am talking about spending thousands of dollars at a time on
things I do not really want or need, but am driven to spend), excessive
energy and the inability to sleep for days even weeks at a time. Schizo-Affective
Disorder is not Schizophrenia however I have some of those symptoms such
as auditory, tactile, and visual hallucinations. PTSS is Post Traumatic
Stress Syndrome which is a disorder that comes with a bunch of symptoms
after a very traumatic event or events in a life. Many war veterans have
this.
As to my reconciliation of my illness with my faith in God – Many
Churches teach that you can't be mentally ill that it is either sin in
your life or demonic oppression or possession. All Christians sin, it is
part of being alive, we are born with a sin nature, we just need to be
quick to repent of our sins. They do not recognize mental illness as a
true illness. Mental illness is not really different than having
diabetes, cancer, or lupus. You just can't find my illness on an X-Ray,
CAT Scan, or in blood work.. I sought God on my own for some answers as
to why He would allow this to happen to me. I learned that a sound mind
that God talks about in the Bible truly means (and you have to take all
those verses in context not pull one out) to have a determined made up
mind to serve God. I have also learned that in spite of my illness I can
indeed have a vibrant and personal relationship with Jesus, and help
others through my experiences.
PageOneLit.com: "Moments of Contemplation" is 30 short testimonials
published that took encouragement from your best friend and the online
group. "They said 'publish these! Explain.
Lynn Pinkham: For a
number of years I have shared insights I have learned form God with my
best friend and my support group by writing things similar to what is in
my books. They kept telling me that I should share these insights with
the world, not just a few friends. My best friend was the one who
suggested that I take it in 30 day segments and put it in a manuscript
and send it to a publisher. I honestly did not feel it would ever be
published and was greatly pleased as well as surprised that a publisher
thought I had enough talent to be published.
PageOneLit.com: What's next?
Lynn Pinkham: I am
currently writing "Legacy of Faith" which is sort of a sequel to
"Memoirs of My Grandmother". I am also writing a book called "The
Pendulum Swings" which is more about my actual symptoms of mental
illness and a clearer picture of how God has helped me on a practical
level to deal with that. I am working on a children's book called "The
Elephant and the Cricket". I am looking forward to getting some speaking
engagements to be able to share some of my experiences and insight on a
more personal level than my books could ever do.
PageOneLit.com: What was the last book you read?
Lynn Pinkham: "Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible – Flawed Women Loved by a
Flawless God" Liz Curtis Higgs and "God is Not Through With Me Yet"
Thelma Wells are the last two books I have read, I read more than one
book at a time. Of course reading the Bible is an ongoing process.
PageOneLit.com: Do you have any hobbies? What are they? How do they
enhance your writing?
Lynn Pinkham: I have a couple of hobbies. I do counted cross stitching,
even designing my own patterns. I collect Hummel figurines and
Collectors Plates (mostly Boston Terrier Plates) Also, I play Electric
and Acoustic guitar, or I should clarify that I am relearning to play
them. I am not entirely certain that I could say that they enhance my
writing, though they do give me balance in my life.
