Amish Life in Montana: 4 Steps To Slowing Down

Tricia Goyer shares how she has learned from the Amish about regaining simplicity in our lives.  Here she shares 4 steps to slowing down.

Living in Montana for fifteen years I enjoyed being out of the flow of busy life. Montana is a destination. It’s not someplace people “drive-through” or “stop by.” Life has a slower pace, too. Maybe because there is snow on the ground 6 months of the year. Maybe because the views of the meadows, mountains, and lakes make you remember what’s really important in life–God, family, nature–and not the to-do list. It makes you remember about slowing down for what really matters.

Imagine my surprise when I traveled up to the West Kootenai area and discovered a slower pace still. My daughter Leslie and I had lunch in the West Kootenai Kraft and Grocery and noticed neighbors running into each other and sitting down for an impromptu lunch–Amish and Englisch alike. There were little boys driving four-wheelers and a few girls riding horseback down the country lanes. Another teen boy was mowing the field behind the grocery but his attention seemed to be drawn to the sky and the mountains on the horizon as much as the weeds he was trying to whack down. People in the store chatted about their gardens and yesterday’s rain. I thought my life had been slow-paced in Kalispell, but being in the mountains of West Kootenai I felt like I’d taken my first deep breath.

Since writing Beside Still Waters I’ve traveled to Little Rock, Arkansas. Things are busier here. There are more cars, more traffic, more things to do and see. The challenge for me has been not to get caught up in the flow. To remember that just because people around me have full schedules doesn’t mean I have to do the same. It’s something I’m still trying to figure out. Even in a busier society, it’s important we learn how to slow down.

Being in the West Kootenai has taught me a few lessons I’ve tried to incorporate. Here are 4 Steps Towards Slowing Down.

1. If you run into a friend try to chat for even five minutes. Ask about that person’s day. Ask how they really are.

2. Take a few minutes to enjoy nature. Really stop and look at those beautiful vegetables you are bagging up at the grocery store. Pause to appreciate a flower bed at the park or even in front of your favorite store.

3. Take a big breath and sit back and enjoy lunch with someone you care about. You don’t need to plan a vacation to make time for a spouse, a child, or a friend.

4. Finally, appreciate God’s handiwork in your area. He’s created each place with joys of their own. Don’t forget to thank Him for that today.

Do you have any tips that have helped you learn about slowing down? I would love to hear them!

You might also like:

Written by bestselling author Tricia Goyer, This stunning Amish Christian Fiction novel showcases the impact of God’s love, grace and desire to deepen his relationship with us. As a part of the Big Sky Novel series, these tales of love among small Amish communities will entice you to rejoice in the wholesome romances of the characters.

Go to the Book.