Recently, I read a story about an Amish newspaper that received hundreds of letters asking how to become Amish. The article explained that most people wanted a change of pace or were feeling stressed by their hectic lifestyle. The answer, they thought, was to become Amish.

The newspaper conjectured that most likely, they wouldn’t last a day in the Amish lifestyle. One cold winter day in a buggy would send them hurrying to get home, happy to turn on their car’s heater.

One Amish writer responded to the article in a very thought provoking way:

Become Amish?
“If you admire our faith, strengthen yours. If you admire our sense of commitment, deepen yours. If you admire our community spirit, build your own. If you admire the simple life, cut back. If you admire deep character and enduring values, live them yourself.”