Every Sunday morning, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and I go across town for our ministry at an assisted living facility. We’ve been doing this for approximately four years now. It’s a wonderful ministry we enjoy.

The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage always drives her Sissy Van while I sit in the passenger seat. She prefers to drive because she really doesn’t like riding in my pickup truck. I don’t blame her, so I allow her the privilege of driving across town. I’m not too fond of riding in the Sissy Van, but I have no other choice. Getting in and out is quite the task.

Last week, as we were going across town, the traffic was horrible. I can’t remember when traffic was this bad. It seemed like we were driving bumper-to-bumper all the way across town. Where do all of these cars come from? And why are they on the road on Sunday?

Of course, in this kind of environment, there are many accidents. During the last year, I had 4 friends killed in an automobile accident.

When I was young, people drove on Sunday to go to church. Now, that seems to be off the schedule for most people today. I have no idea where they are going. The important question for me is why are they driving so crazy?

This week, as we were driving across town, I thought about something from back in the day. We had quite a few Amish people in our community. I even had an Amish friend. My great-grandmother was Amish but was shunned because she dated an “English” guy, who became my great-grandfather.

As you might know, the Amish do not drive automobiles. They don’t have electricity in their homes, or plumbing, or anything like that. They don’t believe in that sort of thing. They live a very simple lifestyle.

The most significant thing about the Amish is that, instead of driving an automobile, they drive a Horse-And-Buggy. I remember riding with my friend in a Horse-And-Buggy, and I had a great time.

Thinking about the Horse-And-Buggy community, I realized there were very few accidents. In fact, I can’t remember a single accident involving a Horse-And-Buggy.

Compared to automobiles, I’m not quite sure how many accidents happen with automobiles each year. I’m sure it’s pretty high, and I’m sure many people die as a result of automobile accidents.

But I have yet to hear of somebody dying because of a Horse-And-Buggy accident. I’m not saying it hasn’t happened; I’ve just never heard of it.

What if we went back to those Horse-And-Buggy days? Back to the time when we weren’t all caught up with the latest technology available.

Maintaining a Horse-And-Buggy is far cheaper than an automobile. Gas alone can bankrupt a person. Gas is a lot more expensive for a car than the oats and hay a horse eats.

As we were traveling across town, I looked at my wife and said, “Maybe we should get a Horse-And-Buggy instead of this Sissy Van.”

She looked at me, then said, “Neeeeeigh.”

I didn’t mention that again because I understood exactly what she was saying. I’m not going to nag her about that.

It was rather warm that morning, and The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage turned on the air conditioner and said, “I like air conditioning, don’t you?”

As I enjoyed the air conditioning, I understood exactly what she meant. I’ve ridden in several Horse-And-Buggies, and not one of them had air conditioning. In fact, riding down the road, I was exposed to the weather all around me. Sometimes it was a sweating experience.

There are some advantages to Horse-And-Buggy, I suppose. But as I thought along these lines, I realized the advantages of The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage’s Sissy Van are far greater.

Usually, when I rode in a Horse-And-Buggy, it was out in the country, with very little traffic. It just occurred to me what an advantage that is.

Even though the Sissy Van is not my favorite mode of travel, I must confess it has advantages I should learn to appreciate. I thought long and hard about that, then turned to The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and said, “I must confess that I really do enjoy your Sissy Van.”

She looked at me, then chuckled and replied, “I don’t know if you’re telling me a joke or setting me up for one of your pranks.” Then she laughed some more.

I remember one time going into an Amish store. They had a big book section that I liked to go through. Amish are really into books. The store had no electricity, no lights, and no air conditioning. They did have lanterns throughout the store.

When I found a book, I went up to pay for it, and you will not guess what I saw there.

On the counter was the latest cash register, with all the perks I have ever seen.

When it comes to money, people will contradict their beliefs.

Thinking along this line, I remembered a wonderful verse of scripture.

“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

One of the great things in life as a Christian is appreciating other people, not because you agree with everything they do. Finding something to appreciate in everyone’s life is a great challenge sometimes. Then I focus on that one area I appreciate. Not everything matters.