Probably you have seen or heard about the Amish practice of barn building. As I understand it, if someone in the Amish community experiences a fi re and loses their barn, the entire town will be there in no time to erect a new one. The Amish know that they can count on each other in times of need. What one family cannot handle alone is shared amongst all the families of the community. In fact, one of the reasons the Amish continue to live without many of the "must have" modern conveniences is that their lives are filled by and full of community.
Now compare that to the way most of us live. Many of us don’t know our neighbors and we certainly wouldn't expect them to run to our aid if we had a problem. If we asked anyone for help, it would be immediate family members or maybe a trusted friend.
Some people in crisis turn to social service agencies or depend on insurances companies. That is ok but institutions, despite the important role they play, can never provide that personal care and support that nourishes the soul in crisis.
I know families that have gone into foreclosure and were evicted before anyone on their street knew they were struggling. People fall sick, spouses leave each other, children get into serious trouble and nobody knows. We are so cut off from one another.
Of course it doesn’t have to be this way. I can’t imagine this is what Jesus had in mind for us. But how do we break out of this ever narrowing, painfully isolating world of individualism and self-sufficiency? How do we learn how to live in such a way that we are not so alone?
Two examples come to mind.
Some time ago I looked into having surgery for a problem I had. The procedure was not covered by my insurance so I emailed a Catholic surgeon to ask for guidance. He generously offered to do the surgery in exchange for a donation to a Catholic charity for the amount of the procedure. I raised the funds through Catholic friends and family (tax deductible), the doctor donated his expertise and the Catholic charity received a substantial contribution. Everyone walked away richer for the experience.
Another example I heard about involves health insurance. Three different Christian organizations- Samaritan Ministries, Medi-Share and Christian Healthcare Ministries-have created an alternative to buying insurance.
Based on Galatians 6:2 which says: "Bear one another’s burdens, and so you will fulfill the law of Christ," these ministries invite Christians to pool their resources to pay for medical bills that exceed the means of an individual family. So if a member experiences a need that is more than they can handle, the Body of Christ rises up to help them through this emergency. Think of it as Amish barn building for medical crises.
But because these are Christian ministries and not insurance plans, members send personal letters, scripture quotes, words of encouragement and prayers along with the checks. The idea is that our needs cannot be met by money alone. We long to know that we are not alone and that others are willing to help in our moments of frailty.
Moreover, this approach moves us away from the insurance mentality of "I pay for this expensive insurance and I demand the services I’ve bought" to "I am in need, O Lord, please help." And the help comes from fellow believers, whose letters remind us that God will provide and God is the ultimate source of healing.
Radical, isn’t it. Too good to be true? I wonder. Why can’t we learn from the Amish and begin to move towards needing and trusting one another? Would it really kill us to risk that someone might care enough to throw us a rope when we are drowning?
 | About David O’Brien David O’Brien is the Associate Director of Religious Education for Lay Ministry for the Archdiocese of Mobile. His column, Everyday Faith, appears regularly in the archdiocesan newspaper, the Catholic Week. Email David at dobrien@mobilearchdiocese.org. |
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