Plain Wisdom
A few weeks ago Cindy Woodsmall and Miriam Flaud, the authors of Plain Wisdom: An Invitation into an Amish Home and the Hearts of Two Women visited CBD. They held a book signing and Q & A with our staff, and I had a chance to interview Cindy. (I’ll post the interview in a couple of days.)
In Plain Wisdom, these two women, who on the surface seem to have little in common, share stories of the things that unite them. Values like family, faith, fun and a good meal transcend the differences between Amish and Englischer. Cindy and Miriam have been friends for several years, and have shared countless letters, and cups of coffee together.
In reading the book, what I appreciated most was the introduction to Amish life and culture. And what surprised me the most was how appealing I found their lifestyle. I’m certain that it’s not always as idyllic as it seems, for instance-summer heat without air-conditioning, but the idea of life without blaring commercials or celebrities sounds like paradise to me.
What do you think? Would you like your life without electricity? Do you think there’s any benefit to abstaining from certain activities and conveniences like the Amish do? Let me know what you think.
