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Nostalgia in Amish Country
Nostalgia locates desire in the past where it suffers no active conflict and can be yearned toward pleasantly. ~ Robert Hass Several days ago when my husband David and I were in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania for the retreat I attended, we stayed an extra day so that we could meet up with our son,…
Read MoreA Soul-Nurturing Experience
There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you. ~ Maya Angelou This past weekend I attended a Safe Communities retreat in Ephrata, Pennsylvania at the beautiful Hurst Bed and Breakfast. The retreat was led by Linda Crockett, Lyn Barrett, and Mark Harris, and it was exactly what I needed at this…
Read MoreBefore Dawn
Photo by April Sachs on July 20, 2022 during her year of taking sunrise photos each morning The darkest hour is always before dawn. ~ English Proverb I was reminded of the truth of this proverb on Easter weekend. Friday evening David and I attended the Tennebrae Service at our church (Park View Mennonite Church).…
Read MoreWhen Someone Leaves the Amish
The Roads Taken There are as many paths out of an Amish community as there are those who have left. The one most often taken is the one towards what many call “spiritual freedom.” In most Amish communities, it is not encouraged to study or interpret the Bible for oneself. There is more emphasis on…
Read MoreIntroduction: About Amish and Beyond
Prepare for the new; expect the new; embrace the new. Otherwise, you’ll just repeat what’s old. ~ Marianne Williamson Ever so long ago (in 2009), I started my first blog, About Amish. At that time, I felt like a lone voice trying to challenge widespread misconceptions about the Amish. Many of them came from the…
Read MoreFinding Inspiration and Life Meaning
So much has happened since my last post, back in early November. I’ll give a brief synopsis of some of these events, and then share my thoughts on the future of this blog. I’m back in communication with two of my long-lost sisters. I’ve had no communications with any of my sisters for the past…
Read MorePromoting Safety for Horse and Buggy Travelers
Today I discovered another report about the new law in Ohio that requires all buggies to have yellow blinking lights and how some of the Amish men are non-compliant. Most of them are pleading no contest in court, resulting in a guilty verdict and then refusing to pay their fines. I don’t know how to…
Read MoreHow Prevalent is Sexual Abuse Among the Amish?
The question in my title today has been asked of me ever since I published my first book, Why I Left the Amish. Because my story was one of the first to expose both sexual and physical abuse in an Amish community, the answer was elusive. I would answer this question by saying that because…
Read MoreAmish Customs: A Prejudice Against Pride
Last week Jim Potter wrote: “My question for you is about pride, specifically, Amish pride. I’ve heard that to the Amish, showing pride is a bad thing. Is that true?” In short, the answer is yes. The Amish make no distinction between taking satisfaction in an accomplishment and being haughty or arrogant. All pride is…
Read MoreBook Launch and First Blog Review of Liberating Lomie
In her third memoir, Liberating Lomie, Furlong revisits her childhood memories from the vantage of a mother-daughter relationship. And that bond, like Amish culture, is complicated. ~Sabrina R Völz, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Germany Today is launch day for Liberating Lomie: Memoir of an Amish Childhood. It has finally arrived! I picked up the books from…
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