This summer was a massive time of travel for me. 4 different countries, 13 different cities, and 15 different beds within a 5 week window. It was a good and profitable time, but physically demanding. Throw in the fact that my time in the States (outside of our Alaskan cruise as a family) was FILLED with work meetings and the result is me still stuck in recovery mode here in Asia.
The time, though, was a blessing on many fronts. The work went very well, but more so, it was a wonderful time of being with my family and a few close friends. In addition to the Alaskan cruise that all 15 of us undertook (click here for the post I wrote during the cruise), we had other times of fellowship and celebration as a family of Mom and Dad’s 50th wedding anniversary.
As I sit here in this steamy coffeehouse in Asia reflecting over this time, though, three realities come to mind most about the summer that draws me to want to live a life of greater purpose, joy, and intentionality.
- Whales are awesome and Alaska is beautiful – I won’t go off on this much here since I have already written a post about it, but I did want to say this. . . whales are awesome. On multiple occasions we had whales swim past our ship. One day, we took a smaller boat on a whale watching excursion in Juneau. Seeing mammals the size of school buses swimming in a pack of 9 within 20 yards of our boat was incredible. I messed up in trying to take a picture and instead got 2 seconds of video footage (see the “video” below). Probably won’t get me a Pulitzer Prize or anything, but I hope you enjoy this video captured on my iPad. Not much here in the way of purpose and intentionality, but it does point me more towards God’s pleasure with bringing joy into our lives. (and NO, I do not know the annoying lady yelling in the background.) Side note, shortly after this video, I dropped my iPad, breaking the glass. I really need a better camera! [pb_vidembed title=”” caption=”Here is my award winning footage of the whales next to our boat.” url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IpT2-gowhE” type=”yt” w=”480″ h=”385″]
- Time flies in life – This was brought home in many ways. One, it’s hard to believe that Mom and Dad have been married for half a century. Even harder for me to believe that I have been around for 40 years of it. However, my biggest shock came from the reality that my nephew Stephen Bracher is now taller than me! I know what you are thinking, so let’s avoid the short jokes. I know my towering 5’9 frame is not exactly imposing. However, Stephen was three when I moved to Asia. . . three! He is now driving and taller than me. It seems like a blink of an eye since I moved here and now my three year old nephew will be taking the SAT this fall and looking at colleges the next. Time flies.
- Life is to be cherished – Betsy, Becky, and I threw a surprise party for Mom and Dad with many of their closest friends. It was a joy to be there and celebrate a marriage that many people have been blessed by (click here to read other thoughts on their marriage). Mom and Dad have lived life well and it was joyfully obvious through the testimonies of their friends. Additionally, I had time in Washington DC with my dear friends Craig & Tracey Clarke and Phil & Elisa Autry. These friendships have been forged over time, but purified through tragedy. Phil and I lost our best friend, Phil Clarke, 17 years ago. Craig became our good friend through Phil’s death (Craig was Phil’s brother). Seventeen years later, we are all rallying again for our dear friend/wife/sister in Christ, Tracey Clarke (click here to read my post about Tracey). While I I would never wish the lost of a best friend and brother upon anyone, it has drawn Phil Autry, Craig Clarke, myself, and many others to cherish the gift of life like we never did prior to Phil’s untimely death. While I am praying and begging God to heal Tracey of her cancer, there is a depth of fellowship that has accompanied her cancer that allows us to cherish all of our friendships more than we did before. Instead of trivialities, we are talking about issues of life, death, depression, and joy. Instead of being cautiously guarded around each other, we are diving into issues that really matter in life. Seeing how Craig and Tracey are processing her cancer is drawing me to cherish life and all of my relationships more. There is a sweetness in pain and loss that makes the sacrifice of Christ Jesus much more personal, real, and meaningful. You see, we were designed, ultimately, for eternity and to be with Jesus, as Phil Clarke is right now. It is in the face of death and pain that we find the beauty of salvation that much more tangible.
This is the Autrys, Clarks, and me at dinner in DC.
Through these three realities (life is filled with beauty, life is short, and life is to be cherished, even in the midst of tragedy and pain), I am encouraged to live a life of greater purpose, joy, and intentionality. Life is too short, relationships are too important, and the salvation of Christ Jesus is too real to not strive towards a life of. . . purpose, joy, and intentionality.
I will have a post within a week about my potential contraction of a lethal disease. . . while I was in America!
John, I hope you find rich rest and refreshment now that you are back in Asia. Thanks for this reflection on what matters most. You have been a good model of this for a long time, going all the way back to your Georgia Tech days.
Trent, thanks for your encouragement and friendship. . . I miss getting regular time with you. Can’t wait to hear more about your transition and new job!
How did I just find that you have a blog?
anyways, I so appreciated this “There is a sweetness in pain and loss that makes the sacrifice of Christ Jesus much more personal, real, and meaningful. ”
Amen and Amen. To do it again, life live over, and take away the pain and loss I’ve experienced…. a younger less mature me would say “absolutely”. But now, now I see how the pain and loss exposes and purifies my theology. And that is sweet.
I’ve got so much farther to walk on this road, but I like the direction it’s headed. Thanks for this reminder tonight.
Laura, great thoughts. . . thanks for chiming in! It is strange how counter intuitive pain is, isn’t it? It sucks, but the results seem to always be great intimacy to Christ (when bitterness doesn’t rule the day).
Travis recently told me you guys blog, so I look forward to seeing yours! I just started a few months ago, so you aren’t that far behind. Living alone where I live, I needed something healthy to do at night. I have been surprised at how much I have enjoyed doing this blog. Thanks for reading it and giving some of your thoughts!
John, just beautiful, thank you, your thoughts and words are a genuine encouragment! Scott
Scott, thanks for your kind words. Seriously, I would love to talk one of these days. I hate to wait until I am back in America next.
Always touched by your posts. And you are so right – time is going by too quickly. Prayers for your friend Tracey.
Thanks, Emily. . .
I thought for a moment you were being too hard on yourself about that video – but wow – its 2 seconds long? LOL Gunter… that was just awful.
Ok now for my actual response!
I haven’t read the posts about the cruise but i plan on going back to read those. I always love how you note/talk about god’s creation, how he made animals and the world around us. It shows that even though you work (too) hard, that you also are not oblivious to God’s beauty and you take the time to notice it. Thats really awesome.
Get an ipad cover that is indestructible – its well worth the $100 because it protects the glass and is water proof – kevin is about to splurge on it as well.
Time DOES fly! Its a little unnerving isn’t it! I feel like college was the last time in life where time went on and on (in a good way). those 4 years felt like my entire “adulthood” maturing! I’m not sure how to deal with how fast time goes – or how sharp the realization of not seeing dear friends but once a blue moon sneaks up on me (awful grammar – forgive me its 7am)…. but as each year passes it seems to get faster. Each month is like a week. Its been 4 years since I step my first foot in china! Oh, and I’m married now? That still is sinking in.
Too much to say about your final point. To pursue joy, purpose and intentionality takes a lot of strength when its coupled with heartbreak and hardship. I relate to the words you spoke, just learning to DO it now.
Love you! So proud of you.
Erin
Erin, thanks for all of your thoughts here. I’m rolling about how much you think my video stinks. . . it was literally a mistake! Miss you and look forward to getting to know Kevin better one of these days. I have enjoyed seeing your wedding pics on Facebook.
wow. the video. just wow.
Thought you would like it.
Thanks for these thoughts, Gunter. I pray that recovery mode will be good to you. Glad you got to see the whales; I hope that sort of makes up for not snorkeling with whale-sharks on vacation.
Thanks Charlie. . . just for clarification, scuba diving and snorkeling are very different things. Probably akin to the difference between rollerskating and skateboarding!
I love reading your blog & seeing photos.
You are a tremendous Blessing to our family & many others !!!!
Psalm 139:16
Thanks Mrs. Clarke. . . it is obvious from this post how much your family means to me! Love you!
Great writing again! It definitely has given me a lot to think about. I also really like the picture of all of you in DC.
Thanks Teri, wish I could have spent more time with you guys this summer. Hope you guys are well and enjoying the new job!