How many times have you heard someone sharing their story and near the end they say, “and I never looked back.” My understanding is that they are communicating that they have no regrets about the decisions they made to get to where they are today. I am happy for them.

Sometimes, I look back. I wonder if I made the right decisions. Also, I like to look back and remember. In recent days I have realized more than ever how important it is to live in the present day. There is absolutely no value in worrying about the future, though wise planning for the future is a really important way to live. If Noah had not planned for the upcoming flood and built an ark, he would have been in big trouble. I wonder if he ever worried about the future – I am sure he did – and had to ask the Lord for help in this regard. So perhaps, there is a proper way to look ahead, a proper way to look back and a proper way to live in the moment.

I was not intending to write a part three until recent events offered an opportunity I could not ignore. Lynn and I have always found great pleasure in taking old houses (another type of weak earthen vessel) and transforming them into something much better than what we started with. What some call “sweat equity” has been a particular calling that has been fruitful for us in multiple ways. Though our three sons may not fully agree, transforming the third floor of the St. Paul house was a great learning experience. All of the Rupe men stumbled down the third floor attic stairs covered with fine black dust during the demolition phase. Hopefully, none of us will have black lung disease as a result. Though we had the opportunity to build a new house for Camp Jewell in Connecticut, our first old rental property was purchased in Winsted. Our homes in Lafayette, Fridley, St. Paul, Ely and Fairview have all been significantly worked over. All of them, older earthen vessels, with great potential.

Here is our team ordering chai on the street in Kolkata. The other photo is the discard bucket for the clay chai cup. My first chai experience in 2017, I was really fascinated by the cup. It was very small and easily the simplest clay vessel I had ever seen. It was also, in a certain way, my favorite clay vessel. I noticed that the chai vendor had a whole case of cups and by the way they were stacked I could tell that each one was slightly different than the next. At least in some way, they must be hand made.

This Sunday, March 4th, I will be marching forth at New Beginnings Church in Fairview to share some of my experiences in India. Anyone interested is certainly welcome to our 10:00 a.m. service. Part of my story will be an explanation of the clay chai cup. My introduction in this blog will be continued this Sunday morning. Please pray that I will have God’s ability as I share.

In our last days in Kolkata, we met a few other young couples with a missionary calling. One couple was from Argentina, the wife is a physician and the husband a photographer. They were spending several months in Kolkata to search for their specific calling and were only a few days away from a trip home, very enthusiastic about raising support and returning as soon as possible. He shared with me that he had seen many missionary videos showing the desperate needs in India but believed God was leading him to create a video showing the hope of India. As he shared his heart, I could tell that he wanted to approach his calling from a position of hope and faith, not out of pity or desperate need.