Lessons from the Amish – Part 2

(Disclaimer: This article contains graphic details about a mass shooting in 2006 that may be disturbing to some readers. However, the story of love, redemption, and unconditional forgiveness is well-worth the read.)

Last week, we focused on four lessons we can learn from the Amish. In no particular order, they are: the importance of self-reliance, hard work, family and community, and minding your own business.

Ironically, of all the blog posts I have written and published over the past several years, I received more comments about that simple article than any other… and they were all favorable.

I’m guessing the reason why so many people enjoyed the piece and felt led to comment on it is because in today’s fast-paced and seemingly out-of-control world, most of us long for simpler times. That’s one of the reasons why Deanna and I just enjoyed a short getaway to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary.

Instead of going someplace that offered glamor and glitz and attracted large crowds, we opted for a 100-year-old bed and breakfast in a small town in the middle of nowhere. Not only that, but we spent much of our time browsing the dozen or so antique shops in town and simply relaxing with a good book on the enclosed sun porch.

No deadlines… no schedule… and as little modern technology as possible. You could almost feel your blood pressure drop a few degrees.

Now, back to the Amish and yet another lesson they can teach us about their simple lifestyle as well as their faith-in-action. In fact, it may be the most important lesson of all.

Forgiveness.

It’s a simple word and a simple concept, but extremely hard to implement let alone master. And yet, that is exactly what happened in the aftermath of the largest mass school shooting in Pennsylvania state history.

On October 2, 2006, Charles Carl Roberts IV, a 32-year-old milk tanker truck driver, left four suicide notes – one for his wife and one for each of his three children – and drove his pick-up truck to the West Nickel Mines School, a one-room schoolhouse in the Old Order Amish community of Nickel Mines in Bart Township, PA. Once there, he took more than 20 hostages, some of whom either escaped or were eventually released.

The teacher, Emma Mae Zook, managed to run to a neighboring farm to call for help and within minutes, Pennsylvania State Police troopers were on the scene. Realizing that he was trapped, Roberts opened fire on the remaining hostages, all young girls between the ages of 6 and 13.

The first two victims were Marian and Barbara Fisher, ages 13 and 11, who courageously asked to be shot first so that the other hostages might be spared. Barbara was wounded, but Marian was killed. As soon as the police heard the shots, they rushed the schoolhouse but not before Roberts had fired his shotgun three times (including once at the state troopers) and his pistol 13 times.

Altogether, six girls died – two at the scene, one who was pronounced dead on arrival at Lancaster General Hospital, two sisters who survived until the following morning before being taken off life support, and one who passed away in 2024 from complications from the shooting. Four others were wounded.

Roberts fired his final 9mm bullet into his own head, killing himself instantly.

Janice Ballinger, a deputy coroner in Lancaster County, later described the scene that Roberts had left behind. “There was not one desk, not one chair, in the whole schoolroom that was not splattered with either blood or glass,” she said. “There were bullet holes everywhere, everywhere.”

Ballenger counted at least a dozen pellet-inflicted wounds in a single child before having to ask a colleague to take over for her. Other reports stated that three of the girls were shot “execution-style” in the back of the head and the others were all shot at close range.

Amidst the horror and ashes of this inconceivable tragedy arose a story of incredible Christian compassion and yes, forgiveness.

On the day of the shooting, the grandfather of one of the murdered girls was heard warning some young relatives not to hate the killer, saying, “We must not think evil of this man.” Another Amish father was quick to point out that “He had a mother and a wife and a soul and now he’s standing before a just God.”

Jack Meyer, a member of the Brethren community living near the Amish in Lancaster County, explained to reporters: "I don't think there's anybody here that wants to do anything but forgive and not only reach out to those who have suffered a loss in that way but to reach out to the family of the man who committed these acts."

And that’s exactly what the local Amish community did… in very genuine and practical ways.

A spokesman for the Roberts family said that an Amish neighbor comforted them hours after the shooting while also extending forgiveness. Amish community members also visited and comforted Roberts' widow, parents and parents-in-law. In fact, one Amish man held Roberts' sobbing father in his arms, reportedly for as long as an hour, to comfort him.

And yet, it didn’t stop there.

About 30 members of the Amish community attended Roberts' funeral and Marie Roberts, the widow of the killer, was one of the few outsiders invited to the funeral of one of the victims. Marie later wrote an open letter to her Amish neighbors, thanking them for their forgiveness, grace, and mercy.

"Your love for our family has helped to provide the healing we so desperately need,” Marie Roberts wrote. “Gifts you've given have touched our hearts in a way no words can describe. Your compassion has reached beyond our family, beyond our community, and is changing our world, and for this we sincerely thank you."

In a final act of Christian grace and compassion, the Amish community established and administered The Roberts Family Fund to provide money to care for Roberts' widow and her three children.

Forgiveness is one thing. Offering gifts – and a shoulder to cry on – to the family of the man who slaughtered your daughters and granddaughters in cold blood is something few people can begin to understand or fully comprehend, let alone emulate.

Perhaps Marie Roberts said it best. By demonstrating how their world works, the Amish helped to change ours.