Mennonites and Time
In time, on time, all the time. Not quite true.
For German speaking Mennonites, being on time is engraved into their lives. At least for the majority. If church starts at 7:00pm, you'll see a line of vehicles(buggies or autos) at 6:58pm. If singing ends at 9pm, by 9:03 there is a line of vehicles leaving the church yard. The same way with other gatherings.
KG Mennonites will often say time wasted is money lost. Very true. Also true that when time is used to become materially wealthy, God tends to be pushed to the edge of the heart. Old Colonists have the same mindset concerning time as the KG do, yet their wealth will be shown in crops and livestock and not luxury, since is part of the world and therefore a sin.
Old Order (Hoover) Mennonites are truly the quietest group of Mennonites. Time seems to have stopped in their community. I felt as if I was in the middle of the 19th century, watching ox carts and plows being pulled by horses. Unhurried, calm and the sight of families working together to make the most of time makes me wonder if perhaps they have a secret other Mennonites haven't discovered yet.
Not so with the Holdemans. Although they don't compare time with money, in some of their groups, they have been influenced by North Americans and are more prompt in their gatherings. This doesn't mean they were lazy before. Culturally time wasn't really measured by the clock but more by what was accomplished. Time is to be used wisely but not to gain riches. Since the church is made up of Maya, Hispanics, Mestizos, etc., the members are used to a more laid-back, relaxed, do-it-on-your-own time schedule; the KG, on the other hand, equate time with money. Sadly, some of the Holdemans are becoming more materialistic, thus changing their view of how time should be used.
I remember laying a few hours in a hammock, during a weekday, relaxing and thinking of nothing. Next day I was early at work, refreshed and inspired. Its all part of my culture. It wasn't time wasted, it was time invested in my body's mental health.
The Beachy also are a mixture of cultures, even more mixed than the Holdemans. Teachings on the use of time are related to the spiritual life. Be on time to work, to church, to gatherings but if you need to pray or do other spiritual activity, put your concern for time out the window. Time is not money, time is to be invested in God's kingdom.
Interestingly, specially in Canada, all Mennonites seem to have one mindset: time IS money. At least it seemed that way the first weeks of being there. Living in Canada for some time, I observed these different Mennonites and was bewildered by the constant rush and pressure to keep up with everything and everybody. After a while I became used to it.
For German speaking Mennonites, being on time is engraved into their lives. At least for the majority. If church starts at 7:00pm, you'll see a line of vehicles(buggies or autos) at 6:58pm. If singing ends at 9pm, by 9:03 there is a line of vehicles leaving the church yard. The same way with other gatherings.
KG Mennonites will often say time wasted is money lost. Very true. Also true that when time is used to become materially wealthy, God tends to be pushed to the edge of the heart. Old Colonists have the same mindset concerning time as the KG do, yet their wealth will be shown in crops and livestock and not luxury, since is part of the world and therefore a sin.
Old Order (Hoover) Mennonites are truly the quietest group of Mennonites. Time seems to have stopped in their community. I felt as if I was in the middle of the 19th century, watching ox carts and plows being pulled by horses. Unhurried, calm and the sight of families working together to make the most of time makes me wonder if perhaps they have a secret other Mennonites haven't discovered yet.
Not so with the Holdemans. Although they don't compare time with money, in some of their groups, they have been influenced by North Americans and are more prompt in their gatherings. This doesn't mean they were lazy before. Culturally time wasn't really measured by the clock but more by what was accomplished. Time is to be used wisely but not to gain riches. Since the church is made up of Maya, Hispanics, Mestizos, etc., the members are used to a more laid-back, relaxed, do-it-on-your-own time schedule; the KG, on the other hand, equate time with money. Sadly, some of the Holdemans are becoming more materialistic, thus changing their view of how time should be used.
I remember laying a few hours in a hammock, during a weekday, relaxing and thinking of nothing. Next day I was early at work, refreshed and inspired. Its all part of my culture. It wasn't time wasted, it was time invested in my body's mental health.
The Beachy also are a mixture of cultures, even more mixed than the Holdemans. Teachings on the use of time are related to the spiritual life. Be on time to work, to church, to gatherings but if you need to pray or do other spiritual activity, put your concern for time out the window. Time is not money, time is to be invested in God's kingdom.
Interestingly, specially in Canada, all Mennonites seem to have one mindset: time IS money. At least it seemed that way the first weeks of being there. Living in Canada for some time, I observed these different Mennonites and was bewildered by the constant rush and pressure to keep up with everything and everybody. After a while I became used to it.
