Happy Thanksgiving

This year, as with every year, I have much to be thankful for...... but this thanksgiving, I would like to give particular thanks for the Amish, and their extraordinary example to the rest of us about what the face of Christ looks like.... their faithfulness to the command to love and to forgive is unbelievable.... As you are all probably aware, last week an Amish community in Pennsylvania was attacked..... they were not just insulted, or criticized, or accused of being backward or what have you..... no, 10 of their innocent school girls were shot..... 5 died.... by an idiot with a gun who then killed himself..... did the Amish respond by calling for revenge?..... did they call for the execution of anybody in retribution?...... did they burn "the English", as they call us, in effigy because one of us attacked them?..... no..... they forgave..... I'm sure they felt anger and rage inside themselves, they are only human..... but in the end they rose above their humanity to become more Christ-like, responding to evil with goodness..... on the night of the shootings, some even visited the home of the gunman to comfort the murderer's wife and children..... she was invited to the funerals...... and as an Amish grandfather buried his grand-daughter, he stopped to instruct the younger members on the importance of forgiveness, and not harbouring evil towards the murderer..... they may not believe in higher education, but we have a lot to learn from them.....

³Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
⁵Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.

⁶Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
⁷Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
⁸Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
⁹Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
¹⁰Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

from Jesus' sermon on the mount
Matthew 5:3-10

TECHNORATI TAGS: amish, thanksgiving