forgiveness versus retribution:

thoughts inspired by recent tragedies striking the

amish community in the middle west

. . .

these comments were taken from news accounts of

the pennsylvannia school shooting in early october,

and of an accident in michigan, where an amish buggy

was struck by a drunk driver,

killing a young girl and the horse pulling the buggy,

and seriously injuring many more.

For the Amish Grieving Privately,

Coping by Faith and Community Support After Tragic School Shooting

The Amish see death as a part of life. They will grieve...but they have more resignation. They will take this as something God ordained.

. . .

Prior to this event this Amish community, known for their peaceful practices and strong ties to the land, lived in a world where they were largely insulated from violence. Members will need to drawn on their faith in God to stoically and privately cope with these tragic events.
Since the Amish view death as a part of life, they may be better prepared to cope with a tragic death than most typical Americans. An expert on the Amish community, Donald Kraybill, supported this idea stating:
They have a huge family support network. They will not get angry. The pain will be deep, but they will not have to process it alone. They will cry, but it will be in private. And they will believe that it is God’s will and that it is nobody else’s business.

[there is much to be learned here--the rev]

Very Private Grief

For the Amish, public displays of sadness or mourning are very rare, if they are seen at all. Jim Fisher, a retired criminal law professor and author of a book about an Amish murder, offers additional insight into the Amish grief:
They're stoic. They're private. They're not given to public displays of emotion. They'll grieve privately. That doesn't mean they grieve any less.

[gee, does this explain why we don't see amish jimmy swaggerts

tearfully pouring out their sins on television?--the rev]

. . .
Photographers have intruded on these families, capturing images of some of them crying. Amish traditions forbid photography. Thankfully, the news media is being kept away from the homes where the service is being held and airspace has been restricted so Television helicopters cannot film videos of the event from above. They will be allowed along the route where the buggies will drive to the ceremony for a short graveside service.

. . .
Faith, Community Support and Forgiveness

Dr. Donald Kraybill of Elizabethtown College advises that the Amish faith teaches them that even tragedies, such as the shocking school shootings, are part of God’s greater plan. It is their faith belief system that helps the families and the community cope with death and with the grief over the loss of these five girls. They also have faith that God will sustain them through difficult times and struggles.

[i personally don't believe in god, but that doesn't mean

i don't believe in being good, and leading a good life. by my values,

that means having faith in others, and doing what i can to help.

i feel no need to be the "premier leader" to paraphrase

retired general chong, nor do i feel the need to forcefully impose

MY beliefs on others, who have their own.--the rev]

. . .
In the Amish community a death initiates an outpouring of social support both for the grieving family and for the community. Dozens of buggies line the driveways of the homes of the victims. Family and community members will do what is needed to support those who are grieving by cooking meals, watching other children or doing the farm work. By sharing the grief it is no longer just the grief of a family, but the grief of the entire community. With faith and community support the families will cope with the loss. Perhaps most remarkable for outsiders is the ability of the Amish community find solace within their faith, to grieve together and believe it was all part of God’s plan. Because of their faith they are able to pick up the pieces and keep going.

According to those who know this community, the Amish are not angry, laying blame or seeking revenge following this tragedy. Remarkably they are finding ways of extending forgiveness to the family of the gunman through deed and prayer. Within hours of the shooting, an Amish neighbor comforted the Roberts family hours and extended forgiveness to them.

One person, Jack Meyer, member of the Brethren, another group like the Amish, offered this insight into their beliefs, “There’s not a lot of benefit in looking back and being bitter, unforgiving or critical.”

. . .

[perhaps if bush, et alia, were a bit more forgiving, and less bitter, in their own PERSONAL beliefs, the policies of this country would be less offensive to many in this country, and throughout the rest of the world. i find the christian hypocracy of many in the political arena absolutely the most vile of all hypocracies.--the rev]