Individualism and Community

              This month, I read Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy by Kraybill, Nolt, and Weaver-Zercher.  I found it in our convent library and anticipated a thought-provoking read about the mercy shown after the schoolhouse shooting. I wasn’t disappointed in that regard. I was pleasantly surprised, though, by the thorough research that was done about the Amish community. The authors used the culture and practices of the Amish as context in their account of the aftermath of the shooting. I was especially struck by the descriptions of the values and life of the Amish community. When I discovered that they wrote a sequel that delved deeper into what it means to be Amish, The Amish Way: Patient Faith in a Perilous World, I started reading that, too.

              The Amish community centers around its church, which makes and enforces rules about their lifestyle. This goes beyond matters of prayer and worship; it includes strictures about what they are allowed to wear and own.  Conversely, the church’s main focus is community. All churches have a community structure, but they emphasize different aspects. The authors provide two examples: Pentecostals focus on the Holy Spirit, and Catholics on the Eucharist. Community is one of two key values of the Amish. The other is submission, which is linked directly to the community and the church.

              The most powerful example of this communal emphasis is the communion service. One Sunday a month, the church celebrates the Lord’s Supper. The service takes place over the course of a day, and includes reading from the Bible, preaching, and a meal. The purpose of this is to give each member of community a chance to reconcile before receiving the bread. Unity is so important to them that before the bread is distributed, the minister asks if anyone still needs to reconcile with someone. Often, I approach Eucharist more individually; I pray about my relationship with God and my needs. Reading about this practice reminded me that the Eucharist helps Christians to grow as the Body of Christ. This gives me a new perspective when I’m at Mass or Adoration. It reminds me to seek union with all sisters, to communicate, understand, and forgive.

When I was visiting different communities as part of my discernment of religious life, my sister suggested that I visit that community that lives simply and doesn’t use technology. “The Amish?” I clarified. Yes, that was the one she meant. I then let her know why that wouldn’t work for me: they aren’t Catholic. However, as I read this book, I found myself making the comparison to my own experience of religious life. The two have more in common than I realized back then. Exploring what they believe and how it’s lived became an invitation to reflection on my own experience of community life.

Most people find belonging in groups that they belong to. The Amish do, too. It goes deeper than that; their identities come from the community.  They use an acronym that we used on our promotional buttons at one time: JOY. This shows their priorities: Jesus, Others, then Yourself. The church legislates what many would consider personal choices or matters of free will. They reject the individualism of mainstream culture, instead yielding to the wisdom of the community. This includes their church and its leadership. They also draw upon the history and writings for their church for guidance. Members that were interviewed for the book describe yielding to God and community as a lifelong struggle. However, they are totally supported by the community. They believe that the family and the church should take care of the community’s needs. As such, they rely solely on their church to cover medical costs, to the point of rejecting insurance and government aid.

There are obvious parallels between the community life practiced by the Amish and that of religious life. We also adhere to guidelines on how to dress. We cherish the spiritual heritage that the Catholic Church and our foundress gave us. Also like the Amish, we receive complete support from the community while fulfilling our obligations to it. The Amish even have a form of vows that they take; when they’re baptized, they kneel and solemnly promise to obey the church’s laws.

              On a more personal level, the issue of the role of the individual in community resonated with me. I definitely felt tension between my identity as a person and as a community member. It took me a while to figure out a balance; I learned how to go outside of my comfort zone and to prioritize the needs of community and the world. However, I think that my individual identity is part of how God is calling me to serve those needs. Those are the gifts and talents that I bring to my ministries and daily tasks. I think it’s important that I express myself in those ways, too. I’ve also experienced what it means to receive everything I need from community. When I talk to family members and friends, I realize how lucky I am.  Lastly, I know what it’s like to do my part for the community. I have several official (as well as some unofficial) internal ministries. I work each day to contribute to the needs of the community on both a local and provincial level. It’s rewarding to be able to give to the sisters, and even more so because when I use my strengths and talents to contribute to community, what I’m giving is me. Of course, I also do tasks that are a stretch for me, and that’s its own blessing. Either way, I try to give with a loving and cheerful heart.