It’s a beautiful start to another blessed week, and I’m so thankful the Lord seen fit to let me awake in it. I recently turned in my newest manuscript and I cannot tell you enough how wonderful that feels. There’s still much that will need done before it reaches you, but this particular step, the one where I finally add THE END to a story, is always a milestone for me. I’ve already read, revised, wrote, and revised so much, I’m truly glad not to look at it again for a while.

So much more goes into creating a story aside from the long daunting hours of writing. Research, which has always been so much fun for me, can also take a bit of time. Researching for this story, I had the great opportunity to meet a few Amish healers, but the main character, an Amish Bishop, eluded me. Amish fiction authors often write a bishop into their story, me included, but this was the first time I made one the HERO!!!

And let me tell you, Simon Graber took a lot of getting to know. I struggled despite knowing a three bishops. It was not easy digging into their roles and lives so fully. I was slightly intimidated to reach out for answers to questions on a more personal level. I do have an bishop living just up the road. I purchase goods from the his store. His wife and children run the store while he runs the family cabinet business. We’ve crossed each other’s paths a few times. I’ve never known him to not at least nod in passing and occasionally we pass a smile, but I have never held a conversation with him outside of the weather until I discovered a flaw in my manuscript that only he could answer and despite me interrupting his day, he was willing to help.

If you need a clear picture, imagine a romance writer stopping an Amish bishop mid-chore to ask if her fictional characters would do what I had them do, and a couple scenarios of what is acceptable and not!

Oh, and it wasn’t just him, but his wife and two men working. Everyone stopped to listen to me ask silly questions for my romance novel, yet none made me feel like running out of the room beet faced!!! They were polite, informative, and very helpful. And probably got a good laugh when I left.

I will add, that just reading about a bishop in a sweet romance doesn’t do them a favor very often. Not all bishop’s are stern, authoritarian sounding, or old. Some are fairly young, have tripped over their own feet before, and worry more over the well-being of others that I’m not surprised they don’t have ulcers!!!

If your curious, keep reading.

A bishop sits center of the Amish church goings and doings, the top authority among his congregation. He doesn’t make all the rules, but he does have a voice often heard before others. He never asked to be Bishop, a duty so tiresome, but he was ready, as all men are called to be.  He could be old as 80, or young as 30, a husband, a father, a friend.

He has earned respect before being here. His community nominated him, they voted on him, and he’s already served as an elder. He already knows what is expected of him. Thankfully so, because that’s all the readiness he will have for his full-time ministerial duty.

His and his family’s whole life will change, as much is required of them. Some call it a sacrifice, giving up a quiet life to suddenly having many needs to fill. He will not be trained, nor will he have a manual to follow, but he won’t decline it, what God has called him up to do.

This will be his title for life. Only poor health or a really bad decision will remove it from him. He has no authority outside his community, but must work with other Bishop’s if a need arises.  

He wears many hats. His lay position will not provide for his family, and work still must be done to put food on his table, as well as see others have their table filled too. He will try not to be overly stern, or easily persuaded, for he knows he could lose a few lambs if he sways either way. He also must be vigilant, ignoring the flock lets in the wolves. But he grew up within Plain surroundings, he knows how sin gets in. His platform is barely an inch above his congregation, because every voice matters, and he hears what others have to say. He will counsel, listen, enforce, comfort, and do all he can, and will have stewards at his side to minister and deacon. He is not alone, but at times will shoulder the burden of his title. He has a duty, a purpose to serve God and keep the flock.