From Dawn to Dust/ Morning to Night

Yesterday I had scheduled to meet Steve Wilbe at MacDonald's in Tai Wai at 8 AM. (After meeting Dave the day before at Pacific Coffee, I met Jamie Nahtigall at Starbucks. I was loaded with enouh caffine for the rest of the day and I was on my feet meeting people at the International Christian School and Edmund and his wife for supper. By the time I am back to the retreat center it is 10:30 and I am exhausted and fall asleep, well until 4:15 and 6:00 but it still to early to get up so I turn over. I brought no alarm clock except the one in my head and it did not go off when I wanted. I woke up at 7:50!!!! I quickly got dressed and started walking down the mountain. I was rushing down as fast as I could with out falling. Meeting me in the other direction was, what I call "the Senior Citizen Mountain Climbing Club." They had their walking sticks and sweat towels and were making their way up the hill. I did not ask their age -because I was too out of breath!!! - but I would guess they were in their 70's and 80's - the new 40's in Hong Kong!)



God was on my side because just as I was starting down the hill a taxi came by and he took me to meet Steve on time. It was good to see him again. We did many things together - started ICS - played squash (like racketball) - vacationed on the top of the mountain with our families - our wives both played the piano at the English speaking church - his daughter and Rachel were best friends. Time had separated us but friendships like this we just pick up where we left off. His wife is still teaching at International Christian School. His oldest daughter is teaching in Hong Kong. His other three daughters are now living in the States. He was living Friday to go back to visit them and spend a few weeks with his parents in PA. He shared with me that he had been battling depression for the past three years. I was so sad to hear these words and see the wounded face across the table. I could only wonder what had changed this close friend who was so full of energy and so involved now struggle with things he needed to do that day. There was no time to hear the details. It was not the place and it was information that I didn't need to know. I could feel the pain and struggle. I sat with him and then prayed with him. Our schedules were pushing us on and so we made our way to the train station. I gave him a bear hug and stood on the platform waiting for one train and he the other, each going in different directions. How symbolic it was of our lives. We have gone in different directions but our friendship so special. How thankful that God could be riding each of "our trains" and guiding us. It helped me to know that he will still be with my dear friend when I could not be there.



While I was in the United States, I contacted woman who was teaching Clinical Pastoral Education here in Hong Kong. This is the same kind of program that I am studying at Methodist Hospital. I had asked to visit her hospital and she invited me to meet her students and tour her hospital (breakfast has just been put out on the table - hard boiled eggs, oranges, sliced ham and cheese, toast and British tea. I will have to finish this later - my stomach is making too much noise to hear myself think!!!)