My heart is breaking at the thought of the slaughter of young children at the Amish School in Rural Lancaster County. But this affected me in a most profound way.
My profound admiration and respect for the Amish community and their values and beliefs makes this crime all the more horrifying. Their belief in Peace, Nonviolence, and their complete Faith and Trust in each other is beyond parallel.
How they care for each other and share each other's pain and trials is beyond comparison.
They have taught me, through example, how to let go of Anger, that Anger can too easily turn to Hate, and that Peace is more than just a word, it is Way of Life. Peace and Nonviolence are not just belief systems but deeply ingrained and unquestionable. They are role models of all that is good, all that is noble, and mostly what American Communities should be.
Almost every Saturday, I am fortunate to see my Amish neighbors at my door selling their baked goods. We chat about the weather, gardening, cooking and other assorted topics. Mostly we discuss our mutual concerns for the environment and for Peace for this World. I know about their family and they know about mine.That knowledge is basic like the ages and health of our family members. We pray for each other and for the world. Also, an Amish family in my area owns a Greenhouse and a General Store. We are frequent customers. They are trying to make a living to feed their families like the rest of us. Our differences may appear on the surface, but underneath it all, we are all working for survival in a world where often farming alone will not yield our basic needs.
The Amish and Old Order Mennonites in my area tell me they must go out into the World and sell their goods to All people. They tell us that they need to feed their families and keep their farms running and the goods produced on their farms do not sustain their families and community any longer. We do talk about the Economy in the larger sense of what is needed to survive. And without conveniences that we , the English, need to survive still has them struggling to keep a roof over their heads and feed their children.
Contrary to what many believe, the Amish do eat at restaurants when they can afford it and their business dealings have them out in the community away from their main community. We shop at some of the same stores and there is Horse and Buggy Parking provided at our local supermarket. You can see them in McDonalds and Kmart, too. I see them in the bank and we exchange greetings. I have NEVER seen any of them without a smile , a wave, and they are always are polite and respectful.
Recently, our local Democratic Committee had a table next to the Amish Quilt Table at a local festival. During the lulls and slow times, I would casually chat with one of the ladies. We discussed what we have in common:
* Love of family
* Faith in God
* The wonders of Nature and how we must Conserve and Protect our Natural Resources
* Our opposition to War and Violence.
Our lifestyles are very different as our many of our beliefs but when with my Amish neighbors, I forget all we have that separates us and think only of what we share.
We live near Penn State Hershey Hospital and that hospital is quite accustomed to Amish patients. They have some staff particularly trained in social services for the Amish in that, there are certain customs that are more than customs, they are part of their deeply held religious beliefs.
My late mother and an Amish woman exchanged wishes for healing for their husbands when my father was hospitalized for cancer. We were in the waiting room together and my mother was one of these unique people who do never hesitated to speak to anyone. She saw the worry and concern on the face of this woman and she saw the same in my mother. As we sat there, My mother said, " I am praying for your husband". The woman replied, " and you have my prayers as well, may God bless you".
I hope the Public remembers their need for privacy and how their community comes together privately to resolve their problems and share their pain. I hope the Public understands that just because their Belief system is different, nonetheless, it is one which I admire.
It is refreshing to see true Christians who practice their beliefs and exhibit kindness, compassion, respect, nonviolence in all their interactions.
Their Priorities confuse many but in the end, I find Priorities of Family, Community, Faith to what sustains them. But they are not like the Faux Evangelicals who show more anger than tolerance, more hate than love and certainly advocate War. NOT so for the AMISH.
I should also add that one of my friends grew up in the Amish Community. She decided to leave in her mid 20s but not because of their beliefs or customs, but because she wanted to go to college to become a Nurse. Now she works with the Amish Community as a Visiting nurse. She has taught me much I never knew before.