<So…I took the summer off from blogging. It’s been a relaxing 2.5 months. We have had some great family time and if the weather would cool off…everything else for FALL would drop into place. If you have been here before, thanks for coming back. If you are new…welcome…stay as long as you like.>
In early October of 2004 there was a horrific shooting at a one room Amish school house in Nickel Mines Pennsylvania…killing 5 and wounding 5 more young girls. I think most of us probably remember that event. What I have never been able to purge from my mind is the reaction of the Amish families that were directly involved and the Amish community as a whole.
You see, more than half of those that attended the killers funeral were Amish. And as the money and gifts poured in from all over…the Amish included the killer’s widow and her children in the distribution of the gifts. How do they forgive like that?
So when I ran across this book, Amish Peace, at the first of the summer…it made the top of my reading list.
What a wonderful book and what unique people. The book explores how the Amish view time, money, community, forgiveness and the sovereignity of God. The author, Suzanne Woods Fisher, spent days with them in order to learn their stories so she could share them with us. The attraction that I now have for the Amish lifestyle is summed up in one word…simplicity.
Why is it so hard to live a simple life?
The Amish personify simple living! Here are a few notes on why/how from the book:
- to only live with the things that they really use…and to treasure them.
- Amish farms have no more than 80 tillable acres…on purpose.
- each church district is kept to roughly 20 to 30 families…on purpose.
- their houses and barns are spartan -like; spacious and uncluttered.
- simple dress and grooming…so not to promote pride or status.
- possessions are guided by function and practicality…not by the latest style or trend.
- money is to help others.
- not less choice…but they choose less.
I encourage you to grab the book…the stories read kind of as a devotional. I am not quite ready to become Amish, but I would love to begin living out some of the Amish ways.
The book is full of Amish proverbs and this one grabbed me…“Live simple, so others may simply live”
Share your experience with the Amish in the comment section below or get the book and let me know what you think.
Tags: children, FAMILY, forgivness, humility
So have you ever thought…I would love to ride my bike across the country? Literally from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean on a bicycle. Well, that’s what a team of brave people started doing three days ago. It’s called the Ride:Well Bike Tour and they left the Califorinia coast yesterday and will be riding across this great country for the next 8 weeks.
Thanks for wondering why…It would have to be for a pretty serious reason…and it is.
They are raising awareness and money for Blood:Water Mission. Blood:Water Mission is a grassroots organization that empowers communities to work together against the HIV/AIDS and water crisis. It’s core purpose is to build community through creative social action. They are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded by the members of the multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning band, Jars of Clay, to address the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa.
Blood:Water Mission exists to promote clean blood and clean water efforts in Africa, tangibly reducing the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic while addressing the underlying issues of poverty, injustice and oppression. Blood:Water Mission is building clean water wells, supporting medical facilities, and focusing on community and worldview transformation, both here in America and in Africa. If you would like to know more, check them out here.
For me…this is an intersection of a passion (giving to those in need of clean water and freedom from AIDS) and something I have begun to gain an appreciation for (road biking). I have signed up to help and want to invite you to help too. You can join us in the cause, pray for and track the team, and/or donate. Go to HERE and click the donation page. Select me from the “local cyclist” drop-down list and make your donation. Then lets support and track the team as they make their way across the country this summer.
Thanks…be blessed by blessing others.
