Amish Set an Example for All

Last October, the Amish community endured what too many American communities have suffered through in recent years – the horror of a school shooting. A lone gunman fired upon ten schoolgirls, killing five and wounding five others before he took his own life. The violence shook a community known for its deep held religious beliefs and gentle lifestyle.

However as one has come to expect regarding the Amish, the tight-nit community has handled the issue as only they might. Shortly after the shooting, the community razed the school building that had been the site of the killings. Removing a building that had been the site of such a horrific crime appeared to be the first step to putting this terrible incident behind the community.

I have often wondered what the school community of Columbine felt upon returning to the site of one of the worst massacres imaginable. Could one go back into the hallways or the classrooms without conjuring up the images from that fateful day? How would a loud voice or a slamming door make those students and staff feel?

For the Amish, there was a clear decision to demolish the building that had been the location of the deadly shooting. But instead of the community demolishing the building as one would expect these self-reliant people to do, Nickel Mines brought in folks from the outside world to handle the demolition. Having outside contractors raze the tarnished schoolhouse, a building contaminated by an gunman from outside the community, seemed to be more than just symbolism.

In addition, immediately after the shooting, the community expressed a desire to forgive the gunman. This past week Nickel Mines took an extraordinary step and showed the world it understood the concept of healing.

Stating that forgiveness is a journey and that the community wanted not to be held hostage to hostility, Nickel Mines gave a portion of the $4.3 million in donations they had received after the shootings to the widow of the gunman. The amount was unspecified, but the gesture was extraordinary.

Widow Marie Roberts, a mother of three children herself, had to be experiencing tremendous pain and hardship as well. However, it would be easy to equate her with her husband’s actions. Instead, the Amish saw her for what she was, another victim.

I certainly cannot imagine the horrible grief that the Amish people have gone through. At the same time I cannot comprehend what it must be like to be Marie Roberts or one of her children.

But I can understand and admire the mentality of the Amish. They are amazing people who truly conduct themselves in accordance with their deep held faith.

We would all do well to emulate the example they have set forth.