Thursday, March 31, 2011

The Farrier

There was only one farrier in our community. He was the son of a bishop that lived in one of the neighboring church districts. Jake made his rounds through the five districts in our community with his little buggy and his farrier supplies taking care of everyone's horses.

He would show up every six weeks unless something happened that a horse lost a shoe a special appointment could be made.  LV always enjoyed his visits and more time was spent talking than actually shoeing horses. It was always interesting to hear everything about their visit when Jake left and LV and I started with the chores.

Jake had been there for even longer than usual this time and I couldn't help but wonder what subjects they were discussing this time. Once I finally heard his buggy clatter down the driveway I went out to the barn to start getting the milking equipment ready. Our dog was lying on the floor gnawing at the pieces of hoof that Jake had trimmed from the horses feet, and LV was in one of the silo's throwing silage down to feed the cows.

Once we started with the milking LV started talking. Jake had been talking about church things again, there had been an underlying growing rumble throughout his church district but so far it had seemed everyone was trying to ignore it. It really bothered him a lot that lay members weren't supposed to approach God too often. It was considered almost blasphemous to pray too often, by becoming so comfortable and familiar with God. That years ago before LV and I had become members of the church they had voted to allow members who weren't satisfied with only the prayer they heard in church to be able to pray once a day out of the little black prayer book.

We stewed about that for a while. How could anyone tell us how often we were allowed to pray?  Not that we did more than they allowed, but still.

31 comments:

  1. I love this! My mum's family were all blacksmiths and she grew up living beside the forge watching all the horses being shod. As a little girl, although the building was no longer in use, I loved to go in and see where the fire was and all the irons that still were in place! Cx

    ReplyDelete
  2. I can't imagine not being able to run to our Father with every little thing! It would be like telling our children not to talk to their parents more than once a day. Imagine that?! I wonder what God thinks of that idea.

    ReplyDelete
  3. wow. I'm not sure what I would do if I could not pray. How does one function? I'm eager to keep reading your story ....

    ReplyDelete
  4. I cant imangine my church telling how much or how little to pray!
    Very Interesting!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I would be heartbroken if I could not talk and pray to my heavenly father for everything. It is what he wants from us

    I can't wait to hear more. I do so enjoy your BLOG.

    Blessings
    Janet

    ReplyDelete
  6. How could talking to God be wrong? Where in the world did that come from I wonder. The fact That I can Talk to Him anytime I want is such a comfort to me...I can't imagine anyone trying to take that away. Blessings, Joanne

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow, I apologize on behalf of the needlessly rude individual who commented above. Perhaps there is a good reason why they remain anonymous.

    On the other hand, it is powerful that the Lord was speaing to both your hearts at the same time. I am really looking forward to how this all unfolds...what avenues the Lord brought you down to bring you out of the Amish church.

    BTW, I think your daughters are precious and beautifully feminine in their dresses. Better for them that you teach them to embrace womanhood, than to allow the world to teach them androgyny.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous: I think that this is YOUR opinion, and YOUR opinion, only, and I think the fact that you posted anonymously shows that you are a coward. Name calling is not appropriate.

    This was a most unkind thing to say and I am so disappointed that you would want to hurt the writer of this blog and her family.

    ReplyDelete
  9. MaryAnn: I think your daughters are beautiful and I think that teaching them true womanhood is worth far more than approval from the anonymous commenters...

    I think it's interesting how your family's leaving the Amish church came about and can't wait to hear more.
    xoxo
    Joni

    ReplyDelete
  10. I can't imagine not being able to pray whenever I wanted to. I pray all through the day. I'm always talking to God. : )

    Wow that sure was a bit harsh from Anonymous.
    Some people just say crewel things to try to get a reaction. If I were you I would just delete and forget about it.

    ReplyDelete
  11. You think maybe anonymous has some anger issues? Wow.

    Anyway---your journey is so interesting. Thanks again for continuing to share it with us.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Mary Ann, thank you for another chapter of your story. One of the main reasons I read your blog is because I don't have to see half-dressed or other clothing related perversions here. Again, thank you for a lovely place to visit!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Mary Ann-

    I love reading your salvation story! I'm enjoying this just as much, if not more, than hearing how you and LV were married! :) I'm literally on the edge of my seat wondering what God is going to work into your hearts next!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Fortunately, prayer doesn't need to be a public thing. It ultimately is between you and God. He knows all things.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Lovely blog! I am so enjoying reading about your journey-keep it coming and thank you for sharing so much with us!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Whew! Until I saw that the rude writer mentioned was 'anonymous'. I had HOPED it wasn't me who offended. That comment is gone, so I cannot respond to it, but sadly, some have no respect for people or their beliefs.
    I apologize for their insensitivity too, Mary Ann...whoever they are. Please don't let it shiver your timbers.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I enjoy your blog so much - thank you for sharing your life with us! I also write a blog and there is a way to check all your comments before they are posted. I see you must have had an unpleasant comment which you later deleted but you can save that annoyance by not publishing them at all - check your settings on blogspot!

    All that said my ancestors were blacksmiths and I still live on the family property so I enjoyed reading this entry especially. Your walk with God surely cannot be hurt by frequent conversations! I, like the others, pray all day and cannot imagine being told I can only pray at certain times. I am going to do some research into this and see why this doctrine was initiated - I'm so interested in various doctines and their beginnings.

    Keep up the good work - we are all enjoying your writings!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I think we all send many prayers up each day without even knowing we are doing it.It's natural thing to do.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I need God every second of the day...be to told how often I am aloud to pray is so very sad. These people are missing out on the sweetest communion possible...not to mention a God who NEVER lease us nor forsakes and and desires to be part of our every day lives...he wants to fellowship with us always.

    Connie

    ReplyDelete
  20. Interesting that they'd think that anyone actually could limit how much another person prays... odd, in fact.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Wow! What an weird concept! St. Paul said we are to "pray without ceasing", so how can anyone try to stop you? Besides, if you pray silently, nobody knows but you and God - so there!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Fortunately, I was spared the apparently rude comments of "anonymous". I guess some people just can't help themselves...

    On the other hand, I am so glad I started reading your blog recently - if I had started at the very beginning I would have gone nuts waiting to find out the outcome of your story! Your writing is very engaging, and I have to keep reminding myself that the events and people you speak of are REAL.

    I also have to laugh about farriers - my horse used to be in love with her farrier. I kid you not - she would get all glassy-eyed and goofy; she was always pulling his kerchief out of his back pocket. (I think he left it there just for her.)

    ReplyDelete
  23. The Apostle Paul tells us to pray unceasingly. Also the Apostles stated we are to obey God not man. When the Lord was about to take us out of a denomination very much the same thing happened. We became uncomfortable with some of the rules. The more we read our Bible the more our eyes of understanding were opened. It is why we are told to study to show our selves approved by God, not man. God bless you beloved of the Lord for being open to His calling to a deeper walk. I am really enjoying your blog and pray for God to continue to bless you with your openness.
    Mrs. J.

    ReplyDelete
  24. HI,
    I am so thankful to you for sharing your story. May the Lord bless you.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Our dog loves to eat hoof clippings, too!
    Interesting that the Amish believe one can pray too often. I haven't heard of another religious group that has such a belief.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I have to admit that I have not often been comfortable with many organized religions because of the control they strive to have over their members. Withholding the comfort of prayer? That's pretty awful to me. Ephesians 6:18 urges people to "pray in the Spirit on all occasions..."

    I know of another group which urges their members to not read their Bible unless they're having a Bible study with an elder or a minister. It seems to be all about controlling the "sheep", lest they entertain their OWN ideas, and question the establishment's, which would endanger the establisment's very existence. That does NOT seem to me what God intended, and certainly doesn't follow what Jesus said about "wherever two or more are gathered..."

    I love your blog. I've finally caught up to the present, and look forward to the Rest of the Story.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Pray without ceasing the bible says. maybe that church overlooked that injunction of the Lord 's.Really funny I find this.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Pray without ceasing the bible says. maybe that church overlooked that injunction of the Lord 's.Really funny I find this.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I have to agree with Laura (above .. way up there) that this part of your story is just as exciting and maybe more so than falling in love with LV!

    Prayer ... it's what a body needs (even more than milk!) I love how the Lord was calling you both at the same time :-)

    ReplyDelete
  30. I think people should be allowed to pray as often as they choose to. I'm not really the praying kind, but as far as I'm concerned, if you want to pray then you can do so. Doesn't matter to me if you do it once a week, once a day, at every meal, or whatever. If you - or anyone else - feel you want or need to pray, then you should be allowed to do so. That's my opinion, anyway.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Mary Ann, I never cease to be fascinated by what you have to share about your life and the culture in which you grew up. I never expected to hear of any church that would discourage prayer or prayerful meditation except at certain times.

    I didn't have a chance to stop by yesterday but I think that might have been for the best since I didn't see the comment everyone was reacting to. I'm glad you deleted it and that you took it in stride.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for taking time to comment. I love hearing your thoughts.