Community

From Keith,
To the Congregation.
Mark 6:31 “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

No one knows what quite happened. David was in the field by himself cutting the hay. He was late returning. Then the horses came back to the barn, but David was not with them. Deep gashes in the chest and on the withers of the horses foreshadowed the news. David's wife went across the road where David had been working the team and found him. He lay motionless in the new-mown bloodstained hay. Deep gashes were on his neck just missing the carotid. His head was misshapen. She knelt beside him, cradled him not knowing if he was alive or dead. When she saw his chest heave she ran for the house. With no phone at her place she ran to Melvin's to the shack outside the house where a community phone was housed and made the call.  The ambulance arrived in minutes, and soon thereafter chopper blades thundered just above the tree line. Samaritan, the lifeline helicopter from Fort Wayne picked him up in the field he had been working. Working with horses is inherently dangerous.

He lies comatose in the hospital 60 miles away. It is a distance prohibitive to travel by horse. A driver takes her to the hospital that evening. She doesn't know what will happen back home, but she trusts her faith community. Within moments after the helicopter leaves, her 5 children are divvied up to homes and loved on as they sit in shock. Cows are milked and chores done for the evening. All is done in prayerful silence. Words or working songs are out of place today. I ache for this family. I am first reminded of Andrea Voss and that late night phone call after the State Fair tragedy just over a year ago. And then I think of Ovid's  own Jeff Dowers whose heart surgery had gone amiss the other day. He is comatose at St. John's Hospital. I ponder my feelings of helplessness from the distance. In the throws of tragedy our tendency is to move into action and that is good, but as the dust settles in the Amish community they turn to prayer; fervent prayer. I began to to pray for Jeff. It is and will be the greatest thing I can do in the moment. (James 5:16) 

In this Amish community there are some added ingredients of support. David owns 40+ head of cattle. Neighbors buy his cattle giving his wife some needed cash with which to work. They promise to return them if or when he gets out of the hospital. I stand on a ridge and watch as six teams of horses rake his hay. Men from all over the district come. It is the very field he was working when he was injured. No one calls to set it all up. People just come after their own chores are done to do his. It turnes out there are 24 horses, twelve men, six wagons, and and countless kids who were helping. Women bring food and others drop by cash. There is no health insurance for the Amish so at church David's name is read and his bills are shared. Each house church is expected to give. The church we are a part of, (Oakwood District) with just over 75 adults, is asked to contribute $50,000. No offering will be taken. The money will be hand delivered to the family, no questions asked as to whether it will be used appropriately. 

I am reminded of another church that responded in similar fashion. 

Acts 2:43-45

Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.

When the church acts like The Church, it is so attractive. If we would own again the responsibilities given us as the Bride of Christ and lay aside the encumbrances that so easily consume our finances and energy, I believe the entitlement programs of our nation would shrink naturally and the church would be attractive and attracting in it's community. Instead we build elaborate church buildings become indebted to our secular banking institutions and then we cannot act like the body is called to act. I am so proud of Ovid for retiring it's debt. I pray one year from now we will look more like the bride than we ever have.

I lay my head back on a bale of hay and watch The Church in prayer and action..