German Joe at Calhouns, Tennessee

                                                                                                                                     August 23, 2023

“German Joe”

Joachim Mathew (one ‘t’) was born 90 years ago last month in August 1933. He was born in Prussia. He was a member of Hitler Youth. Back in 1939, German children at the age of 6 were expected to join this organization.

David and I met “German Joe”, which is the name he goes by today, while enjoying a cold drink at Calhoun’s in Lenoir City, Tennessee. He arrived in the United States at Ellis Island in 1952, and was told his name would not work here, so was renamed Joe Mathew. He previously served in Hitler’s armed forces, but after the war, he became a tool and die maker and could take apart and build a machine gun in record time. He was sponsored by a tool and die company in Wisconsin, and that’s how he came to the United States. For some reason, his paperwork never caught up with him.

Shortly after he arrived in the United States, he was drafted. I’m not sure which year that was, but he was sent to Germany! His new job was in the C.I.A.! Now he was back in Germany as a German serving in the US Army, because his US paperwork had been delayed – most likely purposely.

Before being sponsored as a tool and die maker in Wisconsin, he had been engaged to a young lady, Heidi, back in Germany. But, she was a Lutheran and Joe was a Catholic and this combination would never have worked then. He did marry here in the United States and had three sons. We met “Jim” just before we finished up our cocktails – he was there to pick up his dad. All Joe’s sons were educated and professors – one in China (now back in the US), another in Europe somewhere, and one here in Wisconsin.

Now, back to Heidi. At the age of 62, he was contacted by her – both Jim and Heidi were now divorced from their first spouses. She talked him into visiting Tennessee and they eventually got married! Joe doesn’t subscribe to the denominational barriers anymore, and says there is only one God. Amen! The couple ran a Bed & Breakfast here in Tennessee for several years before they sold it for health reasons. Heidi had a stroke. After the stroke, she also had complications from a surgery and something ended up in her brain causing her to be completely paralyzed, unable to speak, except for some movement in her left hand. He visits her regularly and his pastor joins him on a monthly visit to Heidi. It was obvious that German Joe aches for his wife having to live like this. We pray for her peace and comfort and for God’s perfect plan.

I’m sure I’ve left out some important facts, but it was amazing to hear him share a piece of living history. One thing he said was that he was actually at Hitler’s home as a young man and it was quite impressive. He felt it was wrong that the Jews destroyed it. That surprised me, but then when he explained that it was an important piece of history and we shouldn’t be destroying physical reminders – not because we are idolizing them, but because we don’t want to forget history, otherwise, we will not learn from it. A lesson for us all today – thanks to German Joe!

He One-Upped Me!

 June 8, 2023

I had an “AHA!” moment this morning while admiring the quaint homes along the Tennessee River. Mind you, there are several McMansions along this stretch of river also, but I’m always drawn to the smaller, more modest homes. I’m not sure why this is, but it’s always been what catches my eye no matter where we might be traveling. Years ago, when David and I had just begun our family, we would travel back and forth from the mountains of central Vermont to my childhood home in Ontario, New York. I would make mention of the lake homes as we passed by Eagle Lake in the Adirondacks. I’d say, “One day, I’d love to live by a body of water.” David would always dismiss the idea with all kinds of excuses. None of the excuses ever satisfied me and I would just keep dreaming of the day when we would have our own little home on the water, somewhere, somehow.

Maybe my desire stemmed from my upbringing on the Wile Adler Fruit farm situated on the shores of Lake Ontario. We literally lived right on Lake Road. Our back yard consisted of some lawn, a row of grape vines, then an orchard of cherries and apples, and ended at the shore of Lake Ontario. In my mind, I can still smell the lake. I can hear the sound of the waves and I can feel the warm stones and pebbles on my feet. The picture and memories are always very clear in my mind. Having moved to the Green Mountains of Vermont when I was twenty in order to fulfill my dream of skiing everyday, took me away from the lake. The mountains and the beauty of Vermont replaced my love of water and I took immediately to the playground which was Sugarbush Ski Area, hiking adventures on the Long Trail, and canoeing and swimming in the Mad River. Eventually, we were drawn back to the lake when we would take the kids to the sandy beaches at Lake Champlain and when windsurfing became a hobby for a number of years. Then, the kids grew up and went their own ways. So David and I ventured up to the St. Lawrence River and rented a houseboat for a week at a time for a few years in the Thousand Islands. Do you see where I’m going here?

A scripture from Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” My faith has always allowed me to hold onto this truth. Now, this is the crazy, wonderful part. David and I have been traveling by boat for the past four years. We sold our lovely home in Vermont and have been navigating the waterways of the eastern USA since June of 2019 – and we both LOVE it! But, all this time, I’ve been wondering how God orchestrated this lifestyle we’ve come to treasure? It wasn’t really our “dream” or desire to live and travel on a boat. We didn’t even have a boat until 2017!

Then, this morning, the “AHA!” moment happened. As I was looking out across the water from my perch on our boat (aptly named Selah Way), and thinking whether we would ever have our little home on the water, it hit me. We DO have a little home on the water. Not in the way I had ever imagined it, but in a way, it’s even better than I’d ever imagined. And that’s just what God has done. He loves us so much more than we can ever imagine and absolutely does give us the desires of our heart. Sometimes, we don’t even see it until we’ve been sitting on it for four years. Another reminder, that God’s plans are always so much better than anything we could ask for or imagine. [Ephesians 3:20 “Our God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or imagine.”]

I write this not to brag about what I’ve done or to sound proud, but to encourage others to seek God, too. Especially in the days we are living in, when right is wrong and wrong is right, life gets very confusing. Are you intrigued by this story or maybe you’ve had a similar experience?

Maybe you’re frustrated or disenchanted with how life has turned out. Do you wonder where my faith comes from? A scripture that may help you find what I have found is from Romans 10:17 and it reads, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Start by opening the Bible, finding a gospel preaching church, praying, or finding a trusted friend or family member to help direct you. Please feel free to share your thoughts and comments with me!

Amen.