John Gunter

Life - Faith - One Bridge

Betsy’s wedding gift and sacrifice

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(This article is in “My thoughts on weddings. . . (a series)” that I did during June and early July.  If you have not read the other posts, I suggest you click here for an overview of the series and past articles.)

John Gunter with sisters at the beach
My wonderful sisters, Becky and Betsy

It was a few months prior to my graduation from college.  Life was crazy, but school was slowing down.  My sister Betsy was getting married in April.  You see, I love both of my sisters as much as is possible for siblings to love each other.  I was, and continue to be, fortunate to have sisters whom are also close friends.  To this day, there is nothing I enjoy more than spending time with Betsy and Becky.  Seriously.

Anyway, Betsy getting married was a big deal to me.  I was excited for her and proud of her.  My biggest desire was to get her an awesome gift.

Problem. . . I had a sum total of ZERO money.  None.  I could ask my Dad for money to buy this awesome gift, but this just didn’t seem right.  He would have happily obliged, but still it didn’t seem right.  I wanted to get Betsy a gift that expressed a fraction of my love for her (and Bill. . . my equally awesome brother-in-law).  What to do, what to do??? [Read more…]

First Impressions. . . my first few months in Asia

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John Gunter and Patrick Ku during the first few months of life in Asia
This was at a local attraction my first few months in Asia (Patrick Ku is with me).

I moved to Asia permanently in 1999.  At the time, I had no idea how long I would be here, only that it would be “long-term”.  With the exception of a few US based years in the middle, I have been in East Asia since.

It has been an incredible journey of which there have been many ups and downs. Those first few months were packed with new people, experiences, sights, sounds, and lasting impressions.

As is the case with anything new, I wrote more about my experiences those first few months than I have in the past few years combined.  This was a world before Facebook, Twitter, blogging, and everything we have now at our disposal.

Since there were no platforms to share those first few months with a broader audience than family and a few close friends, I thought it would be fun to write a series of posts on this topic. So. . .

During the coming months, I will write a series of posts on some of my FIRST IMPRESSIONS of living overseas.  Most of these will be based on emails written during that time.  I have since edited them and written in some perspective that I now have looking back at each experience.

Hopefully you will enjoy getting a closer look at some of the everyday occurrences and experiences of life in Asia as a foreigner though my first few months.

The following are the titles of the posts.  I will probably add to these ever few weeks as other memories come to mind of which I would like to write up.  So . . .

Also see. . .

Of all the weddings. . . this one was the most special

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(This post is part of my series “My thoughts on weddings. . . (a series)”.  For an overview of and to read the other articles in this series, please click here.)

Mom and Dad Wedding picture (3)
June 24, 1962. . . a most special wedding in Glennville, Georgia.

In this season of weddings, my mind is reflecting today upon a particular wedding of which I was not a direct part of, yet it directly affected me more than any other in history.

This particular wedding began at 4:30pm on a Sunday afternoon.  It was June 24, 1962.  Fifty years ago today.

The setting was the sleepy southern town of Glennville, Georgia.  I’m sure it was hot and humid.  Sunday services had been in session there at the First Baptist Church just a few short hours prior to this wedding.  I’m sure there was hustle and bustle in putting flowers out and readying the church for this different type of worship service.

I’m certain the bride was stunning.  She still is 50 years later.  She had come to Atlanta out of Stetson University to become a teacher, but ended up falling in love.  I understand there were quite a bit of nerves that June day, but that was too be expected for an occasion of this magnitude.  Her cousin was performing the ceremony.  Her father had passed away a few years earlier, while she was a freshman in college, so he was unable to give her away.  Her mother, Georgia Mae, was poised and gracious as always, I’m sure.

I’m certain the groom was handsome.  He still is 50 years later.  With his cropped crew cut and quick natured confidence, I’m sure he was a site to behold.   He was just a few years removed from Georgia Tech and at the beginning of his professional career.  He was probably smirking and joking much of the day, as he has always been prone to humor in situations like this.  I imagine he was in rare form this particular June Sunday afternoon.  His family had come in car loads from Atlanta and other destinations.  I’m sure they were taking in the Glennville, Georgia charm.

Fifty years ago today my parents, John Wyman Gunter and Sarah Katherine Seckinger, were married.  My Dad, no doubt, shifted his feet impatiently [Read more…]

The opposite of love (and purpose) is. . . indifference.

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The-Lumineers
Album cover for “The Lumineers”

As is the case with most new music I get, the first thing I did upon downloading the Lumineers album was put on my headphones and listened to the lyrics.  One of the lines of the song “Stubborn Love” stood out to me.  It is a phrase I have heard much over the past few years.  Great line.  Packed with truth.  The line. . . 

“It’s better to feel pain, than nothing at all; the opposite of love is indifference.”

Intuition would normally points you to the opposite of the word “love” to be that of “hate”.  I assume school children the world over would get counted off if they claimed the antonym of “love” is “indifference”.  However, I do believe there is great truth in this.  The opposite of love is indifference, not hate.

This rings true in marriage.  I don’t have to be married to know that a great way to screw up your marriage is to grow indifferent towards your spouse.  If they get affectionate, you brush them aside.  If they get angry, [Read more…]

My most awkward 20 minutes. . . and culturally rich weddings

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This post is part of my series, “My thoughts on weddings. . . (a series)“.  If you have not read the previous two posts, you can click here now to see them and read about this series.

John Gunter summer 2011
This was Teddy and Carrie’s wedding party from last summer.

One of the joys that has been a result of both being raised in a diverse city like Atlanta and in the profession that I have chosen is I have been blessed by having friends from many, many cultural backgrounds.  In thinking about the weddings I have been in, it’s not merely the amount or location.  It is also a matter of the many TYPES of weddings of which I have participated.

I have emceed at Asian-American weddings, participated in ornate Southern rehearsals dinners, toasted hard liquor at Chinese wedding receptions, and dressed in Filipino traditional clothing at a beautiful wedding in Manila.

John Gunter at wedding in Manilla
This was at Ed Graham’s wedding in Manila, wearing traditional Filipino wedding attire.

My favorite awkward wedding moment was at my friend Marcus Hinton’s ceremony.  You have to understand, Marcus is a beast.  Former state of Georgia football player of the year and four year starter at Clemson.  He graduated and worked with college athletes full-time.  His wedding party consisted of ALL division one football players in skill positions. . . and me.

Everything was quite standard until we literally got to the point of the wedding starting.  The guests were seated and we, the wedding party were uncomfortably waiting in the foyer of the church.  The music started and it was R&B Gospel music with a great beat.  The wedding coordinator then informed us [Read more…]

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