THREE WORLDS DIARY
I left my heart in San Francisco
I really did leave my heart in San Francisco. We lived here when I was younger and I think I was deeply impacted by the multi-cultural environment. Almost everyone in my class were first generation immigrants to the USA, myself included. You could see people from around the world every day throughout the city. We attended a black church in Oakland and a long love oaffiar with 70's soul and funk was born. I think my obsession with strong bass lines started here. The Asian influence convinced me to study East Asia and led me to live there for 11 years (in South Korea and Hong Kong). And living in the most scenic city in the U.S.A. made every other place seem dull. Being back in SF has been a blast. We passed through here with Marco once but he doesn't remember too much. This time he is old enough to experience the city. You could spend weeks discovering the Bay Area--a couple of days was not enough, but we tried to maximize the time. I got spoiled here. Became determined to not live in boring places. And I spent tons of time at the airport with my Dad watching the planes take-off and land from countries I was absolutely determined to visit when I grew up. My Dad was always up to watching the planes land with me for hours at the airport.
I guess I never really thought about how many of my dreams, values, and goals were formed during my time here. But it has all come flooding back as I take Marco and Jamie to key sites where my life was deeply impacted. I knew my Asia fixation started here, but I didn't realize how many other things started here as well. I remember watching the 747 British Airways planes take off and being determined to one day get to know London inside out--and it is now my favorite and most visited place. I spent my birthdays at the SFO airport because that's what I wanted to do on my special day instead of have parties. I just wanted to watch planes and dream of the day when I would see the world.
Wow. There's a strong sense that it I've come full circle. I thank God for the many opportunities I've had and the dreams that have come true. But nothing has been more rewarding in life than my wife and son, and to share it with them has been special.
Thank You California!
We're back from California. We had a wonderful time visiting our supporting church in Citrus Heights--Antelope Road Church of God. It was great spending time with Pastor Pringle in his home (Marco got to swim with their dog!), and our hosts Warren and Pat were amazing! We love you guys. We then headed to Diamond Arrow Camp to speak 4 times about Three Worlds. Thank you to all who turned up for these 4 sessions.
We left Diamond Arrow and California deeply moved and encouraged by the kind words of encouragement from the people, and the support for Three Worlds. This was really our first time to present 3W to the church in the USA, so we thank all the folks from Arizona and California who were such an encouragement to us. It was a great way to end the first year of 3W and begin the start of year two.
Our speaker was Pastor T. Dougherty of Boise, Idaho. Dougherty was chased by a bear one night during the camp. We're not kidding. He pulled a ham-string running from a bear. His room was next to ours, so apparently the bear followed him back to our room area and was outside. We were all asleep. So the story is funny. But I have no idea what my reaction would have been if I had woken up, looked outside my window and seen a big black bear. What would that have been like? I have no idea.
But it didn't happen, so it's just funny and there were many bear puns from everyone throughout the weak. It was "unbearable." Well if you know T. Dougherty, you know that there are only 2 people in the world that would get chased by a bear at a church camp. Tom and his brother Dave who was my first mentor/internship experience at Hoodview CHOG in Woodburn, Oregon. It's actually quite a fitting story for Dougherty to get chased by a bear. So the Tom story will go viral on the internet and we want to make sure it stays that way.
Lots of love to all the people of California and Arizona.
Tomorrow we head "home" to Costa Rica to visit my Dad for 2 weeks. This is our vacation time. Usually good internet connection where we live is non-existant or rare so we may slow down so response to email may lag for a few weeks. But the small group of magical elves that work for me (not the 3W team) will be posting a few more things on the web in the coming days. It will be great to see my Dad after a long time, and for Marco to have some time to play and bond with Grandpa. It doesn't happen often with our life so it's important. After that, it's back to Germany.
Here's one last, lousy, over-exposed photo for the road.
Finally, a Good Picture!!!!
Hey, this diary has been around for 9 years or so---and everyone knows I am an awful photographer. But finally, I got a good picture. It's only the 2nd good picture I've ever taken in my life. The first is on the front page of this website---a picture of the final stop (the end of the train tracks) in Auschwitz Concentration Camp in Poland. So here is my 2nd ever good photograph taken. Behold the beauty! Of course, this was taken in Sedona, Arizona where even a blind chimp could take a nice picture. It's the Richard Gere school of photography, but still....praise me!!!!
San Francisco & Sacramento
We left behind the super hot weather of Phoenix and landed in San Francisco where the temperature was about 75 degrees. We had some time as a family to enjoy Fisherman's wharf and visit some of the places where I grew up--including my old elementary school. I hoped to post some pics, but I haven't had the opportunity to do that--so I will try in the near future. We then traveled to Sacramento to visit Antelope Road Church where my grandparents and my Aunt and Uncle attended. As a child, we made many visits to this church. The church is doing really well and is very globally-minded. We had a great reception which included a BBQ at the pastor's house. We are staying with the Popps family who have known the Nachtigalls since---the 19th century I think. Our families go way, way, way back. Warren and Pat are awesome hosts. They even came and visited us in Hong Kong.
Now we are packing up and getting ready to go to the Northern California CHOG camp at Diamond Arrow. I haven't been there since 1980--but I remember that it was beautiful. Everyone raves about this camp. We will be speaking three times over the course of the week. They say internet coverage and even cell phone coverage is spotty to non-existent up there, so diary entries may be light.
What on earth? What are people supposed to do? Hang out in nature, talk walks, and canoe on the lake? For crying out loud.
It's been great being back in California. My first time since a brief sojourn to L.A. and San Diego in 2009. I forget how awesome California is and how much I miss it.
Dust in the Wind
If you haven't seen the video footage of that amazing dust storm that we had while we were in Phoenix, you've got to see it. This video was filmed over the area where we were staying--so it's actual footage of what we experienced. Very amazing. See here. It's well-worth it.
Phoenix: 118 Degrees???!!!
First of all, I hope you enjoyed that video I posted of the newscaster getting violated by a lizard. We have been watching that over and over and laugh out loud every time. You can watch it a number of ways. Watch it once just concentrating on the sound the guy makes.
Watch it another time just focusing on his head.
Watch it another time and focus on the crazy motions of his hand.
Then watch it again and focus on the calm animal guy picking the lizard off of his suit as he laughs at him.
It's fun for the whole family.
Well, here we are in Arizona. We visited our supporting church in Sun City on Sunday. It was wonderful. We spent quite a few hours after the service fielding a wide array of questions that they had about everything--including financial issues. Their questions were impressive and important. More churches should do this. Grill us. Good for them. People should know what they are getting.
The night before we visited our friends Orin and Odetta. Orin is 98 years old and doesn't look like he's a day over 70. They are both extremely sharp and active. I looked through a photo/story album of Orin's life. It is amazing. Owning a Model T Ford, surviving the Great Depression, working with his hands for decades---what a life. Being able to know people in their 90's who are active and lucid is a 21st century phenomenon. No generation in history has had so many people of such an old age, continue living such a high quality of life. It means that these people are living treasures--full of history and wisdom. It was an honor to listen to his stories. And then I had Cajun food which was awesome.
This weekend, it got up to 118 degrees here in Phoenix. That is the hottest temperature I have ever been in, in my life. Of course Hong Kong feels hotter than this for 80% of the year because of the humidity, but it was something to have steering wheels hot to the touch, the pavement blindingly hot and bright, and feeling cool when it only got down to 100 degrees.
I had no idea that Phoenix gets rain somewhat often. Tonight we got hit with a rain storm and a dust storm. It was absolutely amazing to behold. I've never seen rain in a desert climate so that was a first for me. To see it go from sunny and hot, to no visibility because of dust, and then heavy rain and wind in a matter of a few minutes was awe-inspiring.
This is my fourth time to Arizona and I just rave about it every time. I love it out here. It's surprising since everyone knows I despise the sun and think blue skies are lame and depressing. So why do I like it out here??? I love the architecture, the Southwest motifs, the earth tones everywhere--even on street signs. I love the Cacti and the beautiful jagged mountains. I love the wide streets and the warmth of that over-rated, super lame sun.
And then there's Sedona. Our first trip to Sedona was a few years ago when we took Marco to his first stream in nature. I fell in love with the red rocks. Yesterday we spent the day up in Sedona, hiking a bit (a Nachtigall outdoor hiking event usually lasts about 20 minutes and ends at McDonalds so don't get too excited), and finding some look out points. And then buying a $65 golf shirt for $12 dollars at an outlet store!!! I love America!!!!!
Today I met with the Senior pastor and missions pastor from McDowell Mountain Community Church. They are between the ages of 25 and 35. There are some really innovative, exciting, fast-growing churches lead by these generations and it is always so encouraging to spend time with these emerging young leaders. In general, Church of God congregations out here in the Phoenix area seem to be very healthy.
One final thing I love about Phoenix, Arizona and the Southwest is the Hispanic and Native American influence. It's so palpable and I love multi-cultural settings like that. We've been trying to eat as much Mexican food as we can before going back to the Mexican food wasteland of Berlin.
But the thing that really gets me are the mountains and red rock hills that seem to just spring up all over the Phoenix area. I think those little red rock hills are SO COOL!!!
Tomorrow we head to my old stomping grounds of San Francisco---American's most beautiful world class city. But I look forward to returning to Arizona in the future. I'll post photos soon. Not tonight. We've got to go to the airport at 4:30AM tomorrow. Who is the idiot who booked these early morning flights????
Oh yeah...me.
Top 5 Regrets of the Dying
Yesterday N.A.C. finished and we also attended the funeral for Cheryl Barton. It was one of the most beautiful memorial services I've ever been to in my life. All of the Johnson-Barton family write well and speak well, so their sharing was deeply moving and memorable. She lived a very full life--over half of it spent on the mission-field. I saw this online a few days ago and found it meaningful. It's about the "Regrets of the Dying" and it is written by someone who worked with people in their final moments--palliative care. Read on:
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People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learnt never to underestimate someone's capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal. Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them.
When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five:
1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.
It is very important to try and honour at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.
2. I wish I didn't work so hard.
This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children's youth and their partner's companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.
By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.
3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.
Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.
We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.
It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It is all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.
5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.
This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.
When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.
Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness.