Longevity

This past week we were invited by some friends to help harvest rice.  We don't have much experience with rice harvesting--only one other occasion two years ago—but we thought we've give it a try.

I dug out my sickle to see what condition it was in.  The sickles they make here have somewhat of a serrated edge, which makes them tend to be self-sharpening—as long as you only cut rice.  Ours however has been used to cut weeds close to the ground and so has had numerous run-in with gravel—so I knew it would need some sharpening.

I put a bit of an edge on the sickle with an ordinary stone.  The I figured I would finish off with a finer stone, so I dug out an Arkansas stone that I inherited from my dad.

Arkansas stone from 1902

Upon opening the stone I noticed the writing, "C.E.R. May 31, 1902".  C.E.R. are the initials of my father's step dad.  He was born in 1865, so he would have been about 37 when this stone was purchased.  My step-grandfather was a watchmaker, and he had an cabinet of small wooden drawers filled with all kinds of interesting tools, including this Arkansas stone.  He died the year after I was born and although I have seen a photo of me with him, I certainly don't remember the experience.

I never remember my father using these kinds of sharpening stones.  Usually things were sharpened with a file or with a electric grinder. So the stone remained in really good condition.  Only in my later years did I begin to appreciate a good Arkansas stone to put a keen edge on a knife.  And while these days I'm likely to use a diamond stone for a quick sharpening, there is something therapeutic about putting some oil on a stone and rubbing the knife edge back and forth, though I did not use sperm oil or lard oil as the stone suggested.

The sickle sharpening was a success, and I cut rice for about 4 hours—my back giving out before my arm.  Actually, it was the heat that wore me out by about 2 in the afternoon.

Rice Harvesters

Rice harvesting video

It was a good feeling to put to use this old stone to sharpen some tools.  Even though it has been around over 100 years, it still does what it is supposed to do.

I've been thinking about how this relates to our Christian life.  Will my ministry bear fruit that will stand the test of time?  Will what I build last not just 116 years, but on into eternity?

Paul writes:

¹¹ The foundation that has already been built is Jesus Christ, and no one can build any other foundation. ¹² People can build on that foundation using gold, silver, jewels, wood, grass, or straw. ¹³ But the work that each person does will be clearly seen, because the Day? will make it plain. That Day will appear with fire, and the fire will test everyone's work. ¹⁴ If the building they put on the foundation still stands, they will get their reward. ¹⁵ But if their building is burned up, they will suffer loss. They will be saved, but it will be like someone escaping from a fire.
1 Corinthians 3:11-15 (ERV)

A term we use in our ministry here is "multiplying disciples".  In fact, this gives rise to the new name of our organization (Multiply).  The idea is the show others how to be Jesus-followers so that they also will do the same thing.  Its not an easy task, and we never really know how long-lasting our fruit will be.

One day, the Arkansas stone I used to sharpen the sickle will no longer be of use.  But hopefully, those we have nurtured in the faith will bear fruit that lasts for many generations.

Moving on

With a bit of sadness, this past week we went to Rim Khong Coffee and Steak for the last time.  It's not that we wanted to stop going there, it's just that the proprietors were moving to Kalasin Province, a four-hour drive from here.

Khun Yai ran the restaurant and his wife, Rung Arun, was a captain in the local police department.  (Rung Arun means "Dawn", and so has the same name as my sister)  They were our closest adult friends outside of church.  Their daughter would come to our English classes.

But Rung Arun is from Kalasin and they wanted to move closer to family.  So they built a house there and she got a transfer.  Now, only thirteen months after opening up Rim Khong Coffee and Steak, they closed its doors.  Khun Yai will open up a coffee shop in Kalasin, but it is a long way to go for a cup of coffee.  But I know where to find them when the occasion arises.

Khun Yai making coffee

Last cup at Rim Khong Coffee and Steak

The week after the coffee shop closed, we received word that another friend had moved on.  Betty, a long time supporter of our ministry, went to be with the Lord last month.  We met Betty and her husband Glen when they would come to volunteer at the Baptist Haiti Mission when we worked there about 30 years ago.  Glen and I had common interests in agronomy, photography and bird-watching.

Visiting with Glen and Betty

Their farmhouse in Vermont was a beautiful refuge.  The garden was full of vegetables and flowers, many planted to attract birds.  On a visit to their place back when we still lived in Haiti, Glen, upon hearing that we only had one set of binoculars between us, ordered another pair for us on the spot.

Bird feeders were everywhere at their house, and the whole family was involved in keeping track of when different species would come and go.

Chickadee on one of the Wood's many feeders

Glen has not been with us for several years, and now his wife has joined him.

There is yet another Haiti/Vermont connection that has moved on as well.  Elsa came to work at Baptist Haiti Mission with her husband, Pete, a retired music instructor, shortly after we did.  Pete passed away after a few years in Haiti, but Elsa stayed on volunteering with the child sponsorship program until just a few years ago.  Elsa was always such a cheerful and encouraging person to talk to.  In September, Elsa went to be with her late husband.

Visit with Elsa

Some of those who have moved on we may still see this side of heaven.  But we are grateful to have had all of these people as part of our lives.

As people move on from our lives, we are reminded that our lives are not static.  Changes are constantly happening and we move from one thing to the next.  We don't know what tomorrow brings, all we have is today.

James reminds us of the transience of life: Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.”  How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.  What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4:13-15 NLT)

 Since we don't know what is in store for us tomorrow we would be wise to cherish those we have in our lives while we have them.