The Amish are a simple, religious people, choosing to live among themselves separate from the temptations and perceived evils of the outside world.
So it was–as reported recently by the Tribune’s Wes Smith–for Oba and Lorene Herschberger of little Sullivan, Ill. They kept the old ways, secure in their beliefs about “worldy people”–until fate intervened.
When their son Samuel was injured in a terrible farm accident, burdening the family with insurmountable bills, they had to choose the unthinkable for their insulated culture: inviting the outside world in.
With trepidation, they opened their home to visitors, offering solid, home-cooked meals for donations. And the visitors have come–in great numbers, bearing gifts, respect, support, fellowship and a revelation.
“You realize,” said Oba, “there are a lot of kind, loving and caring people out there in the world.”
It is a simple message affirming goodness, most appropriate for this day. Celebrate the goodness, and judge people–all people–only as you know them.
