Sunday, August 11, 2019

Being Separate by Laura V. Hilton


Last summer my family went on vacation to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I have been there many times in my life since my aunt owned a cabin on Lake Superior and for years we used to spend a month during the summer there.  

                                                 Lake Superior

My Coastie son is stationed in the UP right now, and my new series of Amish books are set there and they are both really good reasons to go to visit. 
We enjoyed our time there,  introducing our three daughters to the Soo Locks, Lake Superior, St. Ignace, White Fish Point Bay and Lighthouse, Tahquamenon Falls, Mackinaw City, and of course, Mackinac Bridge. Unfortunately, we were unable to go to Mackinac Island.   
However, we did “stalk” Amish, both in the area of my new series, the Amish of Mackinac County and in Sault Ste Marie where we even saw Amish at Walmart, driving the city streets in their buggies, and visiting the Soo Locks. 

                                                       Soo Locks

We saw Amish in Mackinaw City in the Lower Peninsula, visiting the lighthouse and the historical Army Fort located on the straits of Mackinac.  I also have heard from people who’ve seen them on Mackinac Island and Tahquamenon Falls playing tourist.

                                           Mackinaw City Lighthouse and
                                                 Mackinac Bridge 

As a writer this provided such scope for the imagination. I can have fun with my Amish characters letting them experience life as I see it, as I know it. They are faced with the same struggles, the same heartbreak, the same problems as the rest of us, and yet they, too, take time out to have fun. That is something you don’t see much of in Amish novels.
When a people who choose to be set apart can interact with the world as tourists and members of a community and yet still maintain their individuality and reputation as a member of the Amish community, how much more so should we as Christians be able to live among the world as members of the Kingdom of Heaven and yet not become part of the world.
2 Corinthians 6:17-18 (KJV)
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
            Let us strive to live in the world as members of a Heavenly community. To be separate, and yet a part so we can be witnesses of Christ.
Acts 22:15 (KJV)
For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.
            Lord, help us to be witnesses unto you as we live in this world but are not of it.  Amen.




Laura V. Hilton is an award-winning, sought-after author with thirty Amish, contemporary, and historical romances. When she’s not writing, she reviews books for her blogs. Her most recent series is set in Mackinac County, Michigan, and includes Firestorm, The Amish Candymaker, and Married to a Stranger (July 2019).

Laura and her pastor-husband have five children and a hyper dog named Skye. They currently live in Arkansas. One son is in the U.S. Coast Guard. She is a pastor’s wife, and homeschools her two youngest children.

When she’s not writing, Laura enjoys reading, and visiting lighthouses and waterfalls. Her favorite season is winter, her favorite holiday is Christmas. 



twitter: @Laura_V_Hilton

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6 comments:

HeidiDruKortman said...

A good one, Laura.

B. J. Bassett said...

Amen. Striving to be separate. The world is watching us. Who do they see living in us?

Marie Bast said...

Lovely, Laura. Thanks for sharing.

Marilyn R. said...

Beautiful devotional, Laura. Reminds me of the saying "We may be the only Bible some people reads", thus we must live different than the world in so many ways. Thank you for sharing.

Kathleen said...

Very nice, Laura. I would love to visit that area someday and agree with your conclusion.

Julie Arduini said...

I'm so glad you were able to go, for all the reasons you mentioned. I hear it is a beautiful area!

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