Come Along On a Peaceful Journey Through Montgomery County's Amish Country

 Finding beauty in a broken world is creating beauty in the world we find. 

-Terry Tempest Williams

We live in a world of plenty, at least most of us do, those reading this anyway.  Sometimes it's easy to take for granted how much we have, the conveniences around us - electricity, internet, motor vehicles.  It's not hard to forget that not everyone lives with the same abundance as we do.  Some even choose to do without, particularly the Amish.  It's been quite a while since John and I took a drive to the Amish communities in Montgomery County so we headed there last week and it only took a moment to remind me why we find a visit there so sacred and grounding.

Aside from the simple life the Amish live, their work ethic is probably the thing I find most impressive.  Even the youngsters can be seen working outside alongside parents and siblings.  Another great thing the Amish can be credited with is preserving green space out in the country where land is farmed and crops and animal keeping ensures the land is not filled with industry and concrete.  Consequently, spending an afternoon there relaxes the mind and reminds one of simpler times.  There is something sort of sacred about the atmosphere, at least for me, perhaps knowing that God and Faith are the basis to the Amish way of life.

Put everything in God's hand and eventually you will see God's hand in everything. - Amish Proverb

A little more laughter, a little less worry, a little more kindness, a little less hurry.

- Amish Proverb

Life is not a problem to be solved, but a gift to be enjoyed. 

- Amish Proverb

Good character, like good soup, is usually homemade.

- Amish Proverb

No dreams come true unless we wake up and go to work. 

- Amish Proverb

Instead of putting people in their place, put yourself in their place.

- Amish Proverb

Many people fail to recognize opportunity because it comes disguised as work.

- Amish Proverb

Contentment is not getting what we want but being satisfied with what we have. - Amish Proverb

Teaching children to count is fine, but teaching them what counts is better.  

- Amish Proverb

An unkind remark is like a killing frost.  No matter how much it warms up, the damage is already done. 

- Amish proverb

A great deal of what we see depends on what we're looking for. 

- Amish Proverb

I hope that you've enjoyed this trip through Amish country.  And I hope the Amish proverbs inspire your week ahead to live simply, love greatly and let kindness lead you.  As always, thank you for letting me share Life As I See It.

READ MORE

A Therapeutic Escape in Any Season - Road Trippin' To New York's Amish Communities

 Even before Covid invited itself into life as we knew it, I had found the local Amish communities a place of peaceful refuge from life's chaos.  I've never had a conversation with a member of the Amish, and all of my experience with them has been from the passenger seat of our moving car as we travel slowly past their farms.  Yet there's something about our road trips through these communities that grounds me and comforts me, sometimes even when I don't feel the chaos erupting in me, I still feel a sense of calm wash over me almost as soon as catch the first glimpse.  You can imagine that these past six months have given me plenty of reason for anxiousness as it probably has you too, so our visits have been fairly regular.  This post will be a photo essay with photos from June to October combined with some interesting Amish tradition.  I hope this road trip by proxy will give you the same peaceful calm it brings me.

It is well known that the Amish lead a simple life, one without modern conveniences like electricity, indoor plumbing, telephones, etc.....  They live their life according to their religious beliefs and therefore many of their customs stem from the Bible and the Commandments.  They believe Sundays are for worship so no work is carried out on Sunday, and their roadside stands are covered with signs that say, "no Sunday sales".  I was thrilled that one of our recent visits was on a Saturday because I found a great new source for pumpkins and root vegetables.  Small butternut and delicata squash were 2 for $1.00 at one stand and 3 for $1.00 at another.  

Vanity is frowned upon by the Amish.  Clothing is simple, often dark colored.  Women have 4 dresses...one for wear, one for wash, one for dress, one for spare.  Their heads are covered and considered sacred to the Lord. Married women wear black prayer caps (bonnets) symbolizing their marital status, single girls wear white bonnets.  Buttons are not used on clothing as they may be viewed as showy.  Velcro and zippers are also not permitted.   Men's trousers have a button fly and their suit coats have no buttons or collars because those are reminiscent of military uniforms which pacifist Amish reject. Women and children are often barefoot around the farm.

In keeping with the vanity, posed photos are frowned upon (described as graven images).  Dolls don't have faces.  The Amish men shave until they are married at which time they grow a beard but not a moustache because a moustache is also representative of the military.  A man who doesn't marry continues to shave until he turns 40 at which time he begins to grow a beard symbolizing his transition to manhood.  I could make a joke here about men and maturity, but I'll refrain.

Children attend school until they complete the 8th grade.  School is taught by single Amish women.  After the 8th grade, vocational training begins.  Women are never allowed to preach or hold any church positions.  Church is held in homes, not churches.  The above photo is a beautiful example of an Amish schoolhouse.  Amish are baptized when they are 16-25 when young adults can make their own decision about whether or not to be baptized or leave the religion.  During baptism, one hand is often covering the face as a symbol of humility.

Since farm life consumes so much time throughout the season, weddings often take place in November or December.  Amish do not wear wedding rings or any jewelry.  Having a big family is considered a blessing from God.  The larger the family, the more helpers there are to tend the farm and gardens.

Our local Amish communities seem to be growing and expanding.  My favorites are in Amsterdam, Glen, Mohawk, Palatine and Stone Arabia.  A couple of these photos (the more modest farms) are in the community in Whitehall.  I certainly don't aspire to be Amish, nor do I for a minute think I'd ever be able to sacrifice modern conveniences, work as hard, or even live without indoor plumbing, but there is something to be said for their commitment to simplicity and devotion to God.  Witnessing that is definitely an inspiration and a reminder to keep priorities in order and focus on what matters in life.  Living without social media must surely be beneficial in maintaining focus on right and wrong, truth vs  deception.  What I am sure of is being in the car with my spouse, insulated from reality and tv, even for a few hours is more and more what the doctor ordered.  It's also a 'no-mask required' activity and who doesn't love that?  I'd like to say that I won't need the escape as much after Election Day is over, but I'm old enough to know that controversy and chaos comes in many forms and will probably still be present long after #46 has been decided.  In the meantime, if you need an escape from whatever is weighing on your mind, try my brand of therapy and see if you don't feel better lickety split!  

 

READ MORE