Mennonite Influence

I’m pretty sure I had never met a Mennonite before I moved to Iowa. At first, I thought of them as a bit eccentric and standoffish. I think I might have scared them off with my flashy appearance and personality. However, over the ensuing years, I have developed close friendships with several Mennonites who have influenced me greatly. Here are some lessons that I’ve learned from them:

Living your Faith—My Mennonite friends have taught me not to compartmentalize real life from my spiritual life. It’s one and the same.

Simplicity— There is joy in simple living. Excess is just an invitation for stress.

Honesty— Lying to others is bad. Lying to yourself is even worse.

Service—serving others brings fulfillment. Self-absorption leads to dissatisfaction.

Sharing—There is enough for all of us. Do not waste; gather up the remnants and you will find there is enough for your family as well as your neighbors.  

“The hero is one who kindles a great light in the world, who sets up blazing torches in the dark streets of life for men to see by. The saint is the man who walks through the dark paths of the world, himself a light.” (Felix Adler)

My favorite part about these friends is how unassuming they are. Most of them don’t realize how much they influence the community around them. They just live, and those of us who come in contact with them inadvertently catch their goodness.