John Gunter

Life - Faith - One Bridge

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…]

Revolting Green Tea Gatorade and my Asian weight room

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Green Tea Gatorade and me
Me and my disgusting Green Tea Gatorade. . . notice that it looks like anti-freeze or something.

Today, several of us were working out in a local gym.  Nothing fancy, but a nice facility for here.

Something happened today, though,  that jolted me into the reality that I am not, in fact, in an American weight room.

Dancing pic in gym
This couple “lights up” the weight room here.

During a break, I bought a Gatorade from the front desk.  Pretty standard.  Opened it without noticing the favor and poured it down my parched gullet.

Bam. . . reality reared its ugly head.  Green tea flavored Gatorade.  Wow!  Not good. 

I like green tea.  Don’t love it, but definitely like it.  I love Gatorade.  Put the two together and it is repugnant.  Seriously.  One slight sip was all I could take.  I needed to brush my teeth to get the taste out.  Not good.

Then, it was as if my eyes were opened.  The weight room here really does have some funny differences compared its counterparts in the US.  I pulled out my phone to take some pics so you could see some of the sites on a random weekday in this Asian weight room.

First, the posters on the walls.  Weight rooms the world over have motivational posters on the walls.  [Read more…]

Don Draper, Proverbs 7, and the reality of sin

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This post is building upon my previous article “Mad Men, Hemingway, and the futility of sin“. You can get to that post by clicking here.

Don.Draper_edited
Don Draper in all his Proverbs 7 glory. . .

This week, in the midst of thinking about the TV series Mad Men in general, and the main character, Don Draper specifically, I came upon Proverbs 7 in the Bible. After reading Proverbs 7 today, I was hit by the cut and dry nature of sin and it’s personally destructive consequences. Proverbs 7 really does read like a transcript for the aforementioned TV series, Mad Men.

This passage in Proverbs is a powerful overview of sin at the point of entry. After both my own personal pilgrimage in life and also in my experience of walking through life with many others of all stages and ages, this passage is amazingly insightful.

21 With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him.22 All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast23 till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life.

Here are my thoughts:

Allure of sin (as told in this Proverb . . . and observed in Mad Men and all of life):

  1. Externally attractive (Proverbs 7:10) – We never see the insidious underbelly of sin prior to entering into it. We only see the external beauty. We see the shine. We see the long, beautiful hair, but we choose to ignore

    [Read more…]

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