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| Old Order Mennonites at the St Jacobs, Ontario Horse Auction |
The monthly horse auction was held on the grounds of our large farmers’ market yesterday. I drove up in the early afternoon to get some apples and noticed more Old Order Mennonites around than usual before I remembered that it was the last Saturday of the month. In our region we hardly look twice when we pass a horse and buggy on the roadway. General stores in the surrounding towns and villages sell hats, suspenders, and dress materials that identify members of our Old Order communities. Our neighbourhood in the city is home to an increasing number of Moslem and Sikh families. They too are easily identified by their clothing styles.
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| Toronto Hipsters |
We have a natural tendency to quickly judge people by their outward appearance and gravitate toward those who look most like ourselves. My high schools did not enjoy much ethnic diversity in the 1960s and 70s, but we knew how to sight a “hoodlum” or a “hippie”. Today’s hipsters are identified by their facial hair, plaid shirts, skinny pants, footwear and lifestyle choices. Tattoos and piercings are trendy right now even though I shudder think what they will look like on crepey 80 year old skin in the future.
I have learned that you cannot judge a book by its cover. Inner character takes more time to assess. I am reading a book that was a 1913 best seller called “The Inside of the Cup” by American author, Winston Churchill. The title is based on Matthew 23:26 where Jesus says,
"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.”
It is hard to believe the book is over 100 years old as the themes are so current. The exterior is often a poor representation of the true inner person.
Recently, I was helping a nurse provide morning care to one of our patients with dementia. We were assailed with an angry torrent of racist, sexist and other crude language as well as attempts to hit, scratch and punch. Frontal lobe function does diminish with age-related brain atrophy and dementias but other patients remain sweet and kind in their confusion. From my non-scientific observations, the inner person will be revealed eventually. Hidden anger, anxiety, fear, racism, greed and hatred is uncovered when social graces diminish. Conversely, an inner character marked with love, patience, generosity and acceptance of others does not diminish with age. In this internet age, the outer appearance is hidden, but words and ideas identify the tribe. It is a challenge to wade through the rhetoric but we must check the source and context before we pass judgement.
A contact of mine posted a picture of the church bulletin where he attended today.
Tribal markings will always exist but it is worthwhile to assess the inside first, starting with ourselves.
So true... we simply need to be ourselves and be loved for who we are.
ReplyDeleteSomehow we've got to get past the externals and get to know people. Once we do that, it seems to me thus far, we find that we're all human beings at heart who want to know we're valued.
ReplyDeleteI am amazed at how many areas there are of which I am aware where Old Order Mennonite, or Amish, have settled. Of course, we are near to several areas in Pennsylvania where such communities exist. And my brother, who lives in Steinbach, Manitoba, tells me of communities they have there. My sister lives in north central Indiana, and the same is true for her.
ReplyDeleteInteresting that you note that your neighborhood is beginning to see an influx on Muslims and Sikhs. Our small neighborhood--less than 50 houses--has had 6 homes sell recently, all to Nepalese. They too have distinctive garb, but more likely for cultural reasons than religious.
A good take on the theme, Ruth.
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