Dear

Reader,

This is my first blog post. I am excited to cross over into new territory, and trying to
decide where to start is admittedly a bit daunting. I had the thought a few times that
there may be some readers who wonder why my websites name is The Wardrobe
Letters...so Ill begin here.

Some years ago, my husband Michael and I went to a local auction, and on the auction
floor was a wardrobe (closet type of furniture), and from a distance, I really liked how it
looked. So, we bid on it and won.

There was a problem with this wardrobe though...it looked smaller in the big auction
space. We live in a modest sized home, so this new piece of furniture was hard to place
in the right spot. It traveled from bedrooms, to living room, garage, a moment in the
kitchen (a big NO), then back to the living room.

This purchase on the surface seemed to literally be a big mistake, except it had
something intriguing about it that I didnt notice when we purchased it. I remember
sitting on the end of a bed, gazing at this large of a piece of furniture, and suddenly, like
take your breath away suddenly, I saw on the door, the most unusual grain patterns in
the wood.

On its door is the image of wings and faces.

After struggling for a couple of years to find the right spot for this wardrobe, I decided
to put in on consignment. We moved it to the consignment shop, where it sat. One day I
heard so clearly...KEEP THE WARDROBE. I cant even begin to explain what happened
inside of me, when very shortly after hearing the above, I discovered II Kings 22:14:

So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went to
Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper
of the wardrobe;(bold type mine) (now she dwelled in Jerusalem in the college;) and
they communed with her. (GSB)

After reading about a wardrobe in the above verse and in II Chronicles 34:22, I
immediately called the consignment shop and told them it was no longer for sale. We
brought the wardrobe back into our home for a second time, but I still didnt know
where to keep it.

According to chabad.org, Shallum, keeper of the kings wardrobe, had an important role
in the royal court. Shallum, Hulda his wife, Jeremiah the prophet, Hilkiah the high priest,
Shafan the scribe and his son Ahikam greatly influenced and guided Josiah, who became
king at eight years old. I imagine that Shallum had unusual access to the young king.

But most important, as Josiah grew, he rejected the idols of his father and grandfather,
and when he was sixteen he was used to usher in a revival in Israel filled with
repentance and holiness.

But, what does any of this have to do with the wardrobe in my house? I have been
asking this question for years. In reality, the wardrobe in Josiahs time would have been
one or more rooms, not a piece of furniture.

The wardrobe now lives in my study (former kids room). When I look up from my
writing, I see the images in the veneer and still wonder, whats this wardrobe about? Is
it a reminder about the priestly garments spoken of in Exodus 28 and that we are to be
clothed in glory and beauty, a royal priesthood (I Peter 2:9) Or is there more?

Once again, I am back to why the name, The Wardrobe Letters. In part, when I originally
continued to have the reoccurring thought that I should write, I struggled with how to
make writing fit in my life with six kids and a husband who worked rotating shift work,
writing seemed too big for me; like the wardrobe in my house.

And yes, I kind of glossed over about the image of faces and wings in the door of the
wardrobe. You see, I see the four living creatures, and simply put, its still a mystery to
me. I continue to press in and explore what the wardrobe is about, and to me thats the
purpose of writing...to search, to seek, to ask, to engage, imagine, to dream, to ponder
and wonder about Father, Son and Holy Spirit and the heavenly realm and kingdom.
Only then, can I try to communicate to others my part of our wonderful journey.

My best, Linda










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