So this weekend, I finished the book I was reading, Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult.  Although this author is one of my favorites because she researches her topics to the core, she always (ALWAYS) writes incredibly tragic and heart-wrenching books.  This one was about a dead baby on an Amish farm.

I picked it up because I have always had an interest in the Amish way of life.  My grandparents lived in Lockhaven, Pennsylvania when I was much younger, so we always had an outside view of the “Pennsylvania Dutch” and I thought it was cool. 

One of my favorite quotes from the book was when an excommunicated Amishman was discussing the rules of the Ordnung.. their rules for living.. and he said to remember J.O.Y.  You serve Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself last.  Isn’t that an awesome way to live?

I realized that, yesterday, I should be Amish.  The Amish don’t expect high praise for doing their daily chores.. their praise comes in the food that they harvest or the satisfaction of having it all done at the end of the day.  In fact, it’s considered close to a sin for garnering praise.  The highest compliment you can be paid in an Amish community is to be just like everyone else, to belong to a community at all.  I love that idea.  Love it.

I was driving home yesterday, half pissed off that my day had gone so long, half pissed off that I was carrying the weight of others, and overall just exhausted when I realized: I have Amish values.  I work for the community.  The DO YOUR JOB concept is Amish.  You do your job, I’ll do mine, and then everything gets done and we all can eat.

I highly recommend the book.  This one was not nearly as tragic as My Sister’s Keeper or the so-hard-to-read Perfect Match, but was still as engrossing.  My book pick for the day.  Next, I’m planning on picking up Salem Falls, a modern-day spin on Arthur Miller’s Crucible.