Mennonites

   LeRoy quit school at sixteen to work on the family dairy, and I never saw him again. I like to believe that he is doing well, working hard all week, and Sundays sitting in church with his well scrubbed and well behaved children all around him, and his wife sitting quietly beside; big, satisfied grin spread across her angelic face.

   An illustration of the Mennonite spirit. My father had a friend who was out of work due to severe back trouble. We were taking his family a side of beef and some deer meat, and my father decided to stop at the roadside produce stand of the Yoder family. I had gone to school with Galen, one of the sons, with whom in fact I had the distinction of sharing the same birthday (date and year). Dad decided to get a few vegetables to augment the gift of meat that we were bringing.

     As they were loading a bushel of corn and some peas into the truck, Mr. Yoder asked where Dad was going with all the food. He explained about Ray’s injury and our errand of mercy. Mr. Yoder turned and told his children to load several bushels of various vegetables into the truck. My Father protested that he didn’t have the money for that many vegetables. Mr. Yoder replied; “Tell your friend we said “Praise the Lord”, and we’ll be praying for him.” Nor would he take any money for our initial order. Just a handshake and a wave good-bye as we went to deliver our combined gift.

   Mennonites are the only people I’ve ever known who practice with everyone else what they preach to themselves. As a young man, I pitied the children, who were deprived of cartoons and Snickers bars and the Exchange Club Fair every year, unless it was to show a calf. As I grow older, pity is slowly being supplanted by envy of their clarity of purpose; the strength of their faith. Uncomplicated happiness, and quiet kinship with themselves and their God. May we all be so blessed.