So, I am a Hutterite - an antique flavor of early Reformation Christianity (but we separated over the question of eschatology - they do not believe the Bible on this point). Think Amish and then make me more conservative. The Mennonites are another flavor of early Christianity. If the Hutterites are the conservative right, the Amish just slightly to the left (but reduced from a straight line by living in heresy), the average Christian on the far left of liberalism, and the Mennonite somewhere in the middle. You are welcome to disagree but this is just an example to show that the Mennonites are as far from a liberal Christianity as they are from a conservative me.
Now, I am in Golden, Colorado. The Colorado School of Mines Mineral Museum was closed, so what to do? Well, I drove around and finally settled on playing tourist and walked around the downtown section.
First stop was an antique shop and I was surprised to find someone dressed Plain with the old style head covering! I had to stop it was so unexpected. I thought perhaps she was a Hutterite but if so, why would she be so far away from home and still dressed Plain?!?!?! And who wears the old style covering still? If she is lost or in trouble, should I offer to help her? It is a responsibility on my part to help, this is quite probably a sister. But, I swore to never talk to another woman (I did not already know) ever again. Then she turned sharply and our eyes met. Something else I swore I would never do again was "see" someone, to look literally into their soul. It is a curse, it is a gift encumbered upon me - to "know" certain people at a glance and how to help them. I stuck to my vow and left the store, but my spirit still is in turmoil to this day. Was I supposed to help her? I felt quite ill, still do.
Second store was an art shop. As I came around a corner - there she was again! She looked at me and then rapidly dropped her eyes. She knew she had been revealed. I was flustered and left immediately.
Third store was a quilting shop across the street. And she was there as well! I sat down on a bench in the shop, if she was in trouble, I would give her a chance to speak. But, she said nothing - just kept standing to the side and looking at me expectantly. So I left ... walking down the sidewalk and thinking about this. Obviously she was following me, but why? I came to the conclusion in my questioning mind that Satan was playing with me. He knows how to catch me sideways and I have no idea if this was some sort of a test-trial-trouble, but I was not going to find out without much pray, and there was no time (God always gives you time!), Satan will never ever have another shot at me ever again! I got in my rental car and left her standing on the sidewalk without having ever said a word to her, or she to me. She just staring quietly, eyes averted ...
As I drove away, I convinced myself that she had to be a part of the 19th century re-enactment going on. She was not Plain, nor Hutterite, Amish or Mennonite. Just a random female, probably trouble and I was better for not having said a word to her! I prayed for God's hand to guide her, one way or another. Later in hindsight, I realize that perhaps God had wanted me to help her with whatever her question - to everyone an answer. But, there was still more to come ...
Fast forward several days and I am now in Westcliffe, the town of my ailing mean, cruel, ex-stepmother has moved to. Walking down the street, several girls dressed Plain, with the newer style head coverings and hand in hand. I took note and have to admit my mind raced about the woman in Golden. Nah, she couldn't be here, could she? I was going to throw up if she was.
I stopped at the only grocery store and bought a snack while catching up on whom these women were. I learned about the Mennonites in the valley - not only now, they actually predated settlement in the area by a decade! I never knew that! And, I spent much time in the Wet Valley in the 1970's and never saw anyone whom was Plain! If I had of, I would have moved here in a second!
I could find nothing my step-mother would like at the store so headed to her retirement home. I spied a bakery on the way and thought, hmmmmmmm. I walked in and Plain was everywhere. I was instantly at peace, I knew I was home ... my heart suddenly yearned for Community. It has been so very long.
But, at 7,900 feet - neither my lungs nor my heart were going to last for long! I guess it is one thing to know where home is, it is quite another to know that it is unattainable. As my sister Somer, told me that night, "Well, what are you going to live on?" Yeah, always so $@#! practical .....
Golden has always been home to me, even though I have chosen to live in many other worldwide locations, Golden is where I know I am at home. Maybe that was the entire point of the that first woman. And, at 5,700 feet, much more survivable! But, again unattainable, one expensive place to even visit much less live these days.
So, in the end, I realize that my stalker probably was a Mennonite and probably a part of the re-enactment of gold rush Golden going on that weekend. Perhaps even a student at the School of Mines. She was probably on break and just walking around - or - perhaps something inside of her, saw something inside of me that screamed, "screwed over male" .... or something inside of her knew she needed help and I was safe. Which ever, I will never know. I will not be going back to Colorado for a very long time ...
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