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A "road trip" for the Amish means more than taking a quick shower, racing to the dryer to pull out freshly cleaned clothes to wear and patting on some makeup before turning out the lights on your way out and turning the key to the engine - stopping briefly on your way out of town to gas up the car.

The horse has to be fed, watered, kept in shape, hooves shod, well trained and well behaved. Then you also have to do upkeep on the carriage and make sure any rotting or drying leather is repaired or replaced. Then you have to take the time to brush the horse to get off any loose dirt that can rub a sore into its withers or elsewhere when it is tacked up. You also have to know how the tack goes on and get it on securely but not too tight.

Your children are finally all fed and cleaned up and dressed - we won't even go into how long that took without electric or modern conveniences... just picture the clotheslines dotting the Amish country with handwashed clothes swaying in the breeze. You too, are finally ready to go, with your nice dress and bonnet.

That horse has to be kept steady when there is a semi truck riding too close behind or barreling down the road toward it head on. After all, you have precious cargo in that carriage... and no seat belts. No adjustable seats for you. No shocks to absorb the pavement - for you, your family or the horse.

How long does it take to drive into town when you average 5-8 mph? Try it sometime. They were at least 15 miles from the nearest small town in the direction they were headed. 2-1/2 hours in to town to do their business and pick up supplies and then 2-1/2 hours drive back home. Can you imagine how many times you might hear, "Are we there yet?"

They can't lock up the carriage when they are in town so they carry their purchases from store to store. Their horse is expected to stand patiently, while flies pester it. Then expected to get them safely back home. No cell phone to call anyone for help should they lose a wheel or the horse go lame. No, they don't just pull a car into the garage and forget it when they get home. They carefully remove the tack, brush out the horse and make sure it has plenty of hand raked hay and water for the night.... all before sitting down at their own supper.

And yet, it is a simpler life. Where you know what goes into cleaning your clothes, into the foods that you eat, how things work and how to appreciate what God gave you.

If you have a trip planned to Amish country, make sure you get up early one morning and go for a walk. When you hear the clop clop clop of the horse's hooves hitting the pavement, I hope it makes you think about the lives of the people and animals who live that way and I hope you appreciate all they have to offer.

There's nothing quite as rewarding as being among them and feeling that peace.

Copyright: Jenny Gandert

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