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July '24

". . . So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad."

1 Corinthians 12:24-26 

Reflection:

oats oat field arable cereals 87824

As a young girl growing up near Amish farmland, I loved to ride my bike down long, narrow Weaver Road in midsummer past tall cornfields and grain. I remember seeing for the first time a crop of oats being threshed the old way. I was fascinated, watching as the tan shocks were handfed into a large, heavy cylinder--the thresher (Amish often call it the “thrasher”)--separating the grain from the seed heads or chaff, leaving the seed coverings and stalks. The July day was miserably hot and sultry, but the Amish men continued, rarely pausing to rest.

 

My pastor father had often referred to the biblical accounts of separating the wheat from the chaff, but seeing this labor-intensive process with my own eyes made those sermons all the more vivid.

  

The threshing crew itself also captured my attention: the threshing “ring” where Amish men, and sometimes women, took turns threshing each other’s fields. I learned more about this later in life, that the workers were really like a close-knit club as year after year they shared the task and the responsibility of the grain harvest for their particular community.

 

Just think of having this kind of strong camaraderie between your family members and the people in your own neighborhood. “Many hands make light work,” my mother used to say. Who wants to attempt a monumental task such as harvesting and threshing grain alone, right? Especially with antiquated equipment! 

 

Thinking of community reminds me of our city mayor’s recent initiative, 1000 Neighborhood Gatherings This Summer. “Leave the pollen, politics, and yardwork behind to enjoy a day at the park with your neighbors,” he suggested. Yes, what a good way to reaffirm relationships after the quiet COVID years and even make new friends! 

 

The Amish have been enjoying such gatherings—often in the form of work frolics—for more than three hundred years now, and yet again this summer in Lancaster County, the few Amish farmers who do still grow small grain will benefit greatly from the community of threshing rings/crews working together in harmony.

 

May you cherish the warmth and closeness of community, as well.

 

Happy Fourth!

 

—Beverly Lewis

Updates:

1) The Beverly Lewis Amish Heritage Cookbook, 20th Anniversary edition is available for preorder at:

Baker Book House

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

 The Beverly Lewis Amish Heritage Cookbook

2 I've completed my revisions for The Christmas House, and waiting for the edit in September. More about the book cover, synopsis, etc. coming soon.

3) The "Quilt Sale at the Barn" greeting card from www.Amishcheer.com is still available in the online shop, friends. It's so whimsical and authentic to Amish culture, and perfect for any occasion. Thanks very much for your amazing response to our Amish-themed cards with my sister, Barbara.

Quilt Sale at the Barn 

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