--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: These were the messages we were hearing…" description: "\"“These were the messages we were hearing from some of our non-Amish friends. Hearing these things and opening our hearts to their love started to break..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7a/ora-jay-eash-9384_friendship_these-were-the-messages-we-were-hearing_40547.jpg" --- # These were the messages we were hearing from some of our… ![“These were the messages we were hearing from some of our non-Amish friends. Hearing these things and opening our hearts to their love started to break down the wall that our Amish ways had carefully built up over the years. The truth is, it’s easier to follow the rules. Then you don’t have to be…” quote by Ora-Jay Eash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7a/ora-jay-eash-9384_friendship_these-were-the-messages-we-were-hearing_40547.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7a/ora-jay-eash-9384_friendship_these-were-the-messages-we-were-hearing_40547.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7a/ora-jay-eash-9384_friendship_these-were-the-messages-we-were-hearing_40547.jpg) > ““These were the messages we were hearing from some of our non-Amish friends. Hearing these things and opening our hearts to their love started to break down the wall that our Amish ways had carefully built up over the years. The truth is, it’s easier to follow the rules. Then you don’t have to be close with God. You don’t have to search your own heart. It’s easier to have a set of dos and don’ts”” [Ora-Jay Eash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ora-jay-eash/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote reflects on how rigid rules can distance individuals from authentic spiritual connection, while openness to love and empathy can dismantle cultural barriers. **In simple terms:** Rules can replace personal faith. Key Takeaway Love breaks down cultural walls. Themes spirituality cultural identity empathy rules vs. inner guidance community Mood reflective hopeful introspective Type proverbial observational personal When to use this quote - interfaith dialogue - cultural integration - personal spiritual crisis - community building Key Concepts authenticity connection barrier dissolution Practical Applications - facilitating intergroup understanding - designing inclusive spiritual programs Questions to Reflect On - How do rules affect personal spirituality? - What role does love play in bridging cultural divides? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amish/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [“While our Amish friends were discouraging change, our Englisch friends were encouraging us to open our hearts and talk about things we’d never discussed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ora-jay-eash/while-our-amish-friends-were-discouraging-change-our-englisch-friends/) [Ora-Jay Eash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ora-jay-eash/) > [ “\[on her Amish friends\]I do know this family has borne losses and grief, just like the rest of us. But if they are generally… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/on-her-amish-friends-i-do-know-this-family-has-borne-losses-and-grief/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [“Where we came from in Indiana, the Englisch weren’t so polite. Then again, the Amish usually weren’t polite either. There was a wall between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ora-jay-eash/where-we-came-from-in-indiana-the-englisch-weren-t-so-polite-then/) [Ora-Jay Eash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ora-jay-eash/) > [“No one hugged in the Amish church, and it was awkward at first. In fact, the first time I ever received a hug by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ora-jay-eash/no-one-hugged-in-the-amish-church-and-it-was-awkward-at-first-in-fact/) [Ora-Jay Eash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ora-jay-eash/) > [“Twelve to fifteen Amish families and twenty to thirty Amish bachelors lived in the West Kootenai. They were there because they wanted a better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ora-jay-eash/twelve-to-fifteen-amish-families-and-twenty-to-thirty-amish-bachelors/) [Ora-Jay Eash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ora-jay-eash/) > [“Baptism into the church is one of the foundations of Amish faith. It was their desire to fulfill the believer’s baptism as adults that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ora-jay-eash/baptism-into-the-church-is-one-of-the-foundations-of-amish-faith-it/) [Ora-Jay Eash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ora-jay-eash/) > [“There is no divorce in an Amish community. Many Amish young people turn earnestly to the question of family and marriage in the year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ora-jay-eash/there-is-no-divorce-in-an-amish-community-many-amish-young-people/) [Ora-Jay Eash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ora-jay-eash/) > [“It must have been God’s will,” they said. I’d been trained to believe that to be true, but the words bounced off my hurting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ora-jay-eash/it-must-have-been-god-s-will-they-said-i-d-been-trained-to-believe/) [Ora-Jay Eash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ora-jay-eash/) > [“No parents wanted their youth to do this rumspringa wild thing, but they just did it anyway. Rumspringa, in an Amish community, is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ora-jay-eash/no-parents-wanted-their-youth-to-do-this-rumspringa-wild-thing-but/) [Ora-Jay Eash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ora-jay-eash/) > [“Since all the Amish dress the same, our names were on a label inside the garments, and shawls”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ora-jay-eash/since-all-the-amish-dress-the-same-our-names-were-on-a-label-inside/) [Ora-Jay Eash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ora-jay-eash/) > [“And work is what Ora Jay and I set out to do after we were married. We focused on our house, our things, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ora-jay-eash/and-work-is-what-ora-jay-and-i-set-out-to-do-after-we-were-married-we/) [Ora-Jay Eash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ora-jay-eash/) > [“Amish parents often worry about their older children, especially those who are old enough to join the church but haven’t. The Amish believe such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ora-jay-eash/amish-parents-often-worry-about-their-older-children-especially-those/) [Ora-Jay Eash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ora-jay-eash/) > [“there were no Amish preachers in the church in the West Kootenai.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ora-jay-eash/there-were-no-amish-preachers-in-the-church-in-the-west-kootenai/) [Ora-Jay Eash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ora-jay-eash/) > [“It is common for Amish boys in rumspringa not to dress Amish at all. Girls usually do, unless they go to parties and such.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ora-jay-eash/it-is-common-for-amish-boys-in-rumspringa-not-to-dress-amish-at-all/) [Ora-Jay Eash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ora-jay-eash/) > [“Growing up Amish, I was always well provided for. I felt loved, even though I don’t remember my parents telling me that. There was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ora-jay-eash/growing-up-amish-i-was-always-well-provided-for-i-felt-loved-even/) [Ora-Jay Eash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ora-jay-eash/) ## More by Ora-Jay Eash > [“One weekend we went to a concert at Buck Lake Ranch in Angola, Indiana, where Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner were performing. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ora-jay-eash/one-weekend-we-went-to-a-concert-at-buck-lake-ranch-in-angola-indiana/) [Ora-Jay Eash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ora-jay-eash/) > [“Outside, men were helping with the horses and buggies. They used chalk to number the horses and buggies so they could be matched when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ora-jay-eash/outside-men-were-helping-with-the-horses-and-buggies-they-used-chalk/) [Ora-Jay Eash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ora-jay-eash/) > [“I knew that moving to Montana was the right decision, but it wasn’t an easy one. Some days I would sit by myself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ora-jay-eash/i-knew-that-moving-to-montana-was-the-right-decision-but-it-wasn-t-an/) [Ora-Jay Eash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ora-jay-eash/) > [“the growing season is not so good. As the tomatoes and sweet corn hardly make it till the first frost. I guess they generally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ora-jay-eash/the-growing-season-is-not-so-good-as-the-tomatoes-and-sweet-corn/) [Ora-Jay Eash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ora-jay-eash/) > [“Growing up Amish, I was always well provided for. I felt loved, even though I don’t remember my parents telling me that. There was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ora-jay-eash/growing-up-amish-i-was-always-well-provided-for-i-felt-loved-even/) [Ora-Jay Eash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ora-jay-eash/) > [“It is common for Amish boys in rumspringa not to dress Amish at all. Girls usually do, unless they go to parties and such.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ora-jay-eash/it-is-common-for-amish-boys-in-rumspringa-not-to-dress-amish-at-all/) [Ora-Jay Eash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ora-jay-eash/) > [“there were no Amish preachers in the church in the West Kootenai.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ora-jay-eash/there-were-no-amish-preachers-in-the-church-in-the-west-kootenai/) [Ora-Jay Eash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ora-jay-eash/) > [“In the same way as a preacher is chosen, a bishop is chosen by lot as well.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ora-jay-eash/in-the-same-way-as-a-preacher-is-chosen-a-bishop-is-chosen-by-lot-as/) [Ora-Jay Eash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ora-jay-eash/) > [“Amish parents often worry about their older children, especially those who are old enough to join the church but haven’t. The Amish believe such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ora-jay-eash/amish-parents-often-worry-about-their-older-children-especially-those/) [Ora-Jay Eash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ora-jay-eash/) > [“And work is what Ora Jay and I set out to do after we were married. We focused on our house, our things, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ora-jay-eash/and-work-is-what-ora-jay-and-i-set-out-to-do-after-we-were-married-we/) [Ora-Jay Eash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ora-jay-eash/) > [“It is different out here than what we were used to in Indiana. Weather-wise you just don’t have the humid, sticky weather. Although it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ora-jay-eash/it-is-different-out-here-than-what-we-were-used-to-in-indiana-weather/) [Ora-Jay Eash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ora-jay-eash/) > [“Since all the Amish dress the same, our names were on a label inside the garments, and shawls”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ora-jay-eash/since-all-the-amish-dress-the-same-our-names-were-on-a-label-inside/) [Ora-Jay Eash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ora-jay-eash/) > [“On the first weekend after you turn sixteen, you are expected to do something different — wild. It’s a time of life when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ora-jay-eash/on-the-first-weekend-after-you-turn-sixteen-you-are-expected-to-do/) [Ora-Jay Eash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ora-jay-eash/) > [“We also received letters from out of state, one of which invited us to be part of an Amish circle letter for those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ora-jay-eash/we-also-received-letters-from-out-of-state-one-of-which-invited-us-to/) [Ora-Jay Eash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ora-jay-eash/) > [“No parents wanted their youth to do this rumspringa wild thing, but they just did it anyway. Rumspringa, in an Amish community, is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ora-jay-eash/no-parents-wanted-their-youth-to-do-this-rumspringa-wild-thing-but/) [Ora-Jay Eash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ora-jay-eash/) [Explore all 73 Ora-Jay Eash quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ora-jay-eash/) ## More Amish quotes > [At Motel 6 in Amish Country I wonder if they leave the light on for you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-london/at-motel-6-in-amish-country-i-wonder-if-they-leave-the-light-on-for/) [Jay London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-london/) > [“Thank you for reminding me that the future is in God's hands.'" "'You're welcome. And remember, wherever you go, in body and mind, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricia-goyer/thank-you-for-reminding-me-that-the-future-is-in-god-s-hands-you-re/) [Tricia Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricia-goyer/) > [“Amish children are usually named after aunts or uncles or some other relation. Keeps the family names going.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-price/amish-children-are-usually-named-after-aunts-or-uncles-or-some-other/) [Sarah Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-price/) > [Vegetarian is like raising a kid Mennonite. It's difficult but not that different. Raising your kid vegan is like being Amish. A totally different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-moran/vegetarian-is-like-raising-a-kid-mennonite-it-s-difficult-but-not/) [Victoria Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-moran/) > [“I do not understand why it is so hard for people to believe that the Amish are capable of horrible crimes. As I told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-griffin/i-do-not-understand-why-it-is-so-hard-for-people-to-believe-that-the/) [Misty Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-griffin/) > [“The Swartzentruber Order is the most conservative on the Amish spectrum. Amish people have differences just like any culture.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-nixon-m-a/the-swartzentruber-order-is-the-most-conservative-on-the-amish/) Brenda Nixon, M.A > [“I am not Amish enough to emigrate when my way of life is threatened.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-r-reader/i-am-not-amish-enough-to-emigrate-when-my-way-of-life-is-threatened/) [G.R. Reader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-r-reader/) > [“Eves, on the scale from wholesome to whoresome, you're practically Amish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/eves-on-the-scale-from-wholesome-to-whoresome-you-re-practically-amish/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [“If a mother is the heart of the Amish life, the father is the head; he plays a very significant role, spiritually and practically,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-woods-fisher/if-a-mother-is-the-heart-of-the-amish-life-the-father-is-the-head-he/) [Suzanne Woods Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-woods-fisher/) > [I drive out to this quail farm, where I get a lot of these incredible quail eggs, which I eat all day long. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-gallo/i-drive-out-to-this-quail-farm-where-i-get-a-lot-of-these-incredible/) [Vincent Gallo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-gallo/) > [“We're all broken, Laura. And we're all looking for someone to blame. God's the easiest target. We let ourselves believe that if He loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-fuller/we-re-all-broken-laura-and-we-re-all-looking-for-someone-to-blame-god/) Kathleen Fuller > [The Amish like to live a very plain lifestyle, the way they think God intended. It sort of brings you back to, like, 'Little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/verne-troyer/the-amish-like-to-live-a-very-plain-lifestyle-the-way-they-think-god/) [Verne Troyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/verne-troyer/) > [I turned atheist in the '90s when India went through troubled times - communal riots, bomb blasts... Mumbai, where I live, was badly affected.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amish-tripathi/i-turned-atheist-in-the-90s-when-india-went-through-troubled-times/) [Amish Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amish-tripathi/) > [“Growing up Amish, I was always well provided for. I felt loved, even though I don’t remember my parents telling me that. There was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ora-jay-eash/growing-up-amish-i-was-always-well-provided-for-i-felt-loved-even/) [Ora-Jay Eash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ora-jay-eash/) > [“the Sunshine and Shadow design. The Amish A Devoted Christian's Prayer Book contained the prayer, "We pray, O Holy Father, that we might leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-cameron/the-sunshine-and-shadow-design-the-amish-a-devoted-christian-s-prayer/) [Barbara Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-cameron/) [Browse all 119 Amish quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amish/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“These were the messages we were hearing from some of our non-Amish friends. Hearing these things and opening our hearts to their love started to break down the wall that our Amish ways had carefully built up over the years. 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