John Gunter

Thoughts on Life and Living

One year out. . . remembering my life in Asia

by

Skyline of Chongqing, China
The last view I had from my friends Rush & Meredith’s apartment in my city in Asia before I headed to the airport one year ago today.
At this exact moment one year ago today, I was on a plane from Asia headed to Los Angeles. As I sit here in a Coffee Bean in Beverly Hills, two blocks from my office, I am thinking back on this day exactly 12 months ago.

You see, leaving Asia was certainly the most difficult decision I have ever made. I had poured my entire life in this wonderful region for 20 years. To say Asia was a part of me doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface.

To be honest, one of the reasons I chose to not blog for over a year was that my life was just too emotional, my thoughts too scattered, my heart too broken. When you love a land, people, and calling as much as I did, the process of leaving is a death of sorts. I knew this intellectually, but I have just not had the emotional energy or bandwidth to “go there” with my heart.  God had called me to Asia in my mid-twenties. I obeyed and went. God has now called me to Los Angeles in my early forties. I obeyed and [Read more…]

Trying to be a loving Uncle from 10,000 miles away

by

John Gunter and Flat Stanley
Here are my nephews in the fall giving me their “Flat Stanley/Wolfie”

As I type, I have just “shipped” my 7th and 8th “Flat Stanley/Wolfie” to my nephews John Robert and Nathan.  If you are unfamiliar with “Flat Stanley”, you can learn more here.  “Flat Wolfie” is the variation of the program for the Whitefield Academy WolfPack.

Once again, I have put a good deal of effort in getting these done well.

My sleep was literally impeded as I completed “Flat Stanley” this week, staying up well past mid-night last night.

[Read more…]

Instagram(able) Asia!

by

Here are three Instragram pics I have posted the past year. All have fun/interesting stories, including Meredith & Jack Stuart on the right.
Here are three Instragram pics I have posted the past year. All have fun/interesting stories, including Meredith & Jack Stuart on the right.

As a result of both starting this blog AND the photo sharing application Instagram, I have really enjoyed taking pictures of my life here in Asia (and around the world) and sharing them the past year and a half.  With my new website design, I was trying to figure out a way to integrate both my blog and sharing pics of life.

Here is my attempt! [Read more…]

Asian 4th of July. . . past and present

by

Looking in from my deck/grill area. . . featuring little Jack Stuart (ground) and Adelaide Littlepage (being held)
Looking in from my deck/grill area. . . featuring little Jack Stuart (ground) and Adelaide Littlepage (being held)

It was July 1998.  It was the first time I traveled to what would become my eventual Asian home.

I was leading a summer language study program here in Asia for the first time ever.  Our group was 24 strong.  We, as a group, were clueless about life over here in every conceivable way.  We were the only group of our type in this massive, yet relatively unknown Asian city. [Read more…]

I was nearly crushed by a car today…and 2 life principles observed

by

Typical Asian street, complete with pedestrians, cars, 3-wheelers, and workers in the man-hole in the middle of on-coming traffic.
Typical Asian street, complete with pedestrians, cars, 3-wheelers, and workers in the man-hole in the middle of on-coming traffic.

This morning, around 10am, I was helping my friend Rush Stuart with the TV he had just purchased. We were in a very busy section of town, where there are many electronic stores. Many people and cars and motorcycles and buses and three-wheel Asian contraptions were going every which way. People were crossing streets talking on cell phones and carrying obscene amounts of “stuff” everywhere. It was a typical Asian street scene. In a word, chaotic.

After 11 years here, I have gotten used to scenes such as this. Actually, I have become impervious to them. They aren’t stressful or exciting or strange or colorful; they just are. This morning was a scene such as this. A scene I have lived in for much of my last 11 years.

Anyway. . . as Rush and I walked to cross this chaotic street, Rush in back and I in front, we were carrying his new TV to my car. Nothing unusual. Then. . .

[Read more…]

Subscribe to Blog by Email

Follow Me