Days in the Country

We live in rural Wisconsin by choice, as if among other things, to retain a little sense of rural simplicity in the presence of ever expanding technological advancements that somehow fail to bring ease and simplify our daily struggles to achieve.

This weekend my wife and I ventured into Amish country more by happenstance than by plan an experienced a close up look at excellence in the midst of a truly simplified lifestyle.  I don’t think they choose their way of life by virtue of it lack hurried anxiety or complexity, but rather to be set apart from the traps of modern society that consume the “English” around them.

What strikes me most is the moral and physical excellent with which they do everything they out their hand to.   Most of them are Wonderfully refreshing people to deal with for their yes means yes (as the Bible teaches) – no double talk or deception.  Whether they are growers or craftsmen, they exhibit great skill, passed down from generation to generation.

I am told that a young Amish watched curiously as I took a quick call on my cell phone – something she may have never seen before.   I did not notice her curiosity, but she was around the whole time we handled our business, and was very well mannered and polite.   One of the young men came up to the shop owner an comment that it felt like rain.   My wife (making conversation) asked if was supposed to rain (as forecast) to which he replied “I don’t know – we like to determine the weather here ourselves.”  She said (to me) a bit later “I’ll bet they are much better at it as well”.

Sandy and I experienced a pleasant variety of things old and new during our 3-day anniversary weekend.  We met some great people and saw how they live life (if only for a bit).  Mostly I enjoyed hanging out with Sandy as we saw some new sites wandered from place to place.  She is the best part of anything I do.   I wish we could spend extended time together somehow each week, but schedules prohibit so we must wait and pray for somethings to change.  Days in the country are precious and few.