Hey Dan

If you want my respect, do what is hard. For example, it is hard to live the way you talk. As Christians we talk about ‘turn the other cheek’ when someone wrongs you. Most of us would dismiss this as dangerous and unwise to practice. I have heard of few people who really understand what this means. One group of people who do seem to understand it is the Amish and this week they reminded me what moral values really are.

Last week a man entered an Amish schoolhouse and shot five young girls to death. It was a tragedy and a horrible event in a community of peaceful people. The reports told of older girls asking to be shot first in hopes to save others. I can’t imagine the inner strength it takes to say that. That alone would have earned my respect for the whole Amish faith.

This week they showed me and many other how much we don’t understand about personal strength when they not only attended the funeral of their attacker, but asked other to forgive him. As Donald B. Kraybill of the Patriot News put it, “The blood was hardly dry on the bare board floor of the West Nickel Mines School when Amish parents sent words of forgiveness to the family of the man who had killed their children.”

I am in awe of a people who really live the words they say. This is what it takes now to earn my respect. Do what is hard, because it is right. Now if our country wants to have a moral values debate, lets start here.