Tuesday, June 3, 2025

Dirk Willems and Menno Simons

 Continuing on with my Europe,
500 Years of Anabaptism tour ...

Day 3

We were transported to Asperen for a walking tour and
to hear the famous story about Dirk Willems!

Most of you have probably heard this account of how he
was imprisoned and
escaped on literally thin ice only to stop,
turn around and rescue his pursuer who had fallen through the ice!
He was then captured and burned at the stake in 1569
for being an Anabaptist!


We stood on the bank of where the frozen castle mote had been!
Then we climbed the church's tower for a panoramic view of Asperen.

Here is a powerful poem by Carol Penner, Chaplain and Director of 
Theological Studies, that was read to us on the way to this
historical site.

The Confession of Dirk Willems

What I remember most
is the joy of God’s words on our lips,
in our hearts.
That good news bubbling out,
freely shared with any person we met,
old categories of friend and foe forgotten.
I remember the power of God changing us,
from empty Christians
to disciples full of fire.
I confessed my faith
and chose baptism, freely, consciously,
my prayer as the water trickled over me,
“O my Lord, my God!”
My family and friends,
my neighbours near and far,
they flocked to my house to hear that story.
We read from the Bible,
we prayed together.
And always every meeting,
their words echoing in my ears,
“Can I too be baptized?”

Yes, there was danger.
It was a crime for us to baptize
since we weren’t priests,
and the authorities were out to find us.
But we Brethren were quick,
our feet given godspeed.
So often we escaped
even when escape seemed impossible:
ducking out windows,
fleeing to the fields in the dark,
our pursuers’ lanterns bobbing behind us.
So often God protected us from evil.

The persecution became more severe.
First one brother, and then a sister,
another and another,
arrested, tortured, brought to trial,
made an example.
They were an example to us,
so many, so faithful,
freely bearing their cross, like Jesus.
A witness to God’s glory even in death. 

And then it was my turn to be arrested.
They were there waiting for us
hidden in the darkness as we gathered,
no time to run, just a quick whispered prayer,
“O my Lord, my God!”

Into the prison, and there I had time
to sit and think and pray,
to prepare myself for the ordeal to come.
I was more surprised than anyone
when the opportunity arose
for me to escape.
God works in mysterious ways,
and like Paul before me,
the way was open and I took it.
I ran like the wind;
I could hear shouts behind me
and I knew I was being pursued.
Over that wintry river I fled,
the ice creaking ominously below me.
Even as I ran I prayed,
“O my Lord, my God,
let me run on water this day,”
Cracks formed with every step I took,
and like Peter I doubted.
I pictured them fishing
my frozen body with a hook
out of the cold river.

But God be praised,
my feet reached solid land
and running still, I spared a glance behind me.
I saw my pursuer stepping on the ice,
one of the guards sent to catch me.
I doubled my pace along the river
but my eyes were drawn to him
lumbering, lumbering along.
Suddenly there was no figure at all.
My legs kept running
but my whole attention shifted.
I saw the arms and head appear in the watery pit
bobbing and grasping, ice breaking, splashing.
I could hear his frantic call for help.
I stopped, and looked to his friends.
They all hugged the shore,
afraid to venture to him on the ice.
They were not going to help him.

Having just crossed that wide white river,
having feared that icy grave,
my heart went to him.
I turned around.
It was I who would be a fisher of men this day.
Running back toward my pursuer this time,
I reached that treacherous surface,
and when the cracks seemed louder than my heartbeats,
I dropped gently down on my stomach, sliding sideways,
arms spread wide, reaching for him.
Him reaching for me with freezing fingers,
and then our hands locked,
and the slow, slow, pull to safety.
We did it. I saved him.

We both lay on the ice for a long moment.
Me totally spent from the chase and the rescue,
he totally spent from being immersed in fear,
dazed at returning to the land of the living.

The voice of the burgomeister shattered the silence,
calling from the safety of the shore:
“Arrest that man. 
Arrest that man right now! 
Do your duty.”
I looked at him,
my companion on the ice.
Our eyes held each other,
frozen there on that hard river.
We both watched transfixed
as his hand slowly reached out
and grasped my elbow.
I closed my eyes,
“Oh my Lord, my God.”

And so I am here in the prison again.
They have convicted me,
and today I am to be burned.
In the icy river or in flames of fire,
I am not alone.
Jesus is with me as I take up my cross.
Be with me now,
Oh my Lord, my God.


Hervormde Kerk, Nederland





Following a quick lunch our bus headed toward the famous
Zaanse Schans where windmills and souvenir shops greeted us.
Time to wonder and take it all in.



Back to Volendam for free time and dinner.
A mural on the wall in our hotel room



Day 4
After packing an overnight bag for our next stay with a host family in
Berlikum, we headed to Witmarsum - Menno Simons home town!
One of my favourite stops. I felt I could live there!




Menno's Contour Church monument



The "cherry on top" for me was this Windmill that has been restored
and is being used by a young Mevrouw de Molenaar (Mrs. Miller),
Christa Bruggenkamp!
She has dubbed her Mill 'De Onderneming' (The Enterprise) and
grinds the special locally grown Turkey Red Wheat for baking
Menno Bread for the community!!!

Oh how amazing it would be to spend time with Christa and her
workers to learn how to make this Ancient Grain Bread.

Grains such as these were smuggled in dolls or sewn into clothing 
hems when the Mennonites had to flee from Russia.

"without seeds, Mennonites literally had no life, and without
Mennonites, Turkey Red Wheat might have died long ago"



Christa points to a picture of the Mill's original Vos family who have relatives
in Ontario - known to a few members of our group!



Next stop ...

Menno Simon's hidden Church in Pingjum

At the church we were greeted by Johannes van der Meer, husband to an Ontario friend (Rosalie Steinmann) from Akkrum, who told
 us many more stories about the church and about Menno Simons. 

 

Inside the church.
We took every opportunity to sing in each of these spaces!

Then on to Berlikum for a welcoming dinner, a church service and to meet our host families.  
Jen and I were billeted with a lovely couple who live in Leeuwarden, Friesland's capital city!

 

A refreshing evening walk through the city
where we saw another "hidden" Mennonite Church and special city land marks, ended our day with wonder and a new appreciation of Friesland life. 

Our hosts!

 


A good night's rest before saying "tot ziens" to our new friends ...

On to the village of Giethoorn we go ...


Until next time ... a reminder that this is written through my eyes and ears. I am not a history scholar by any means and hope the facts are relatively accurate.


"I can neither teach nor live by the faith of others. I must live by my own faith as the Spirit of the Lord has taught me through His Word."  quoted by Menno Simons

 


 

 

 







Monday, June 2, 2025

Amsterdam and Volendam

May 2025 has been a "Whirlwind" and I'm still spinning!
First two weeks were busy with concerts, luncheons,
coffee dates, 1st of the season lawn mowings,
Doctor appointments, 80th birthday party,
Spring flowers, packing and repacking for the upcoming trip!

The day came when the Airporter arrived and whisked
part of our group off to Toronto's Pearson International Airport for our
14 day adventure to Europe, commemorating 500 years of Anabaptism,
themed THE COURAGE TO LOVE!

31 "Friends of Grebel European Tour" group began the tour
in Amsterdam, led by 2 of Grebel's very capable Professors,

Here we go ... Day 1 and we are off to Amsterdam.


 

Jen Konkle, my fun roommate, former colleague and fellow traveller takes the best selfies.
That's me way in the back waving.


After more than 20 thousand steps (a marathon of sorts)
we walked the city of canals, stood in the city square where many Anabaptists
were murdered, visited the hidden Singel church, tasted some pickled herring,
toured the Rijksmuseum, and had a relaxing Canal Cruise.
We heard the Westerkerk church bells, near Ann Frank's Hiding Place, which
she wrote about in her diary!



The highlight of the day for me was the Rijksmuseum!
Here we saw some of the famous paintings like Vermeer's "The Milkmaid"
and Rembrant's "The Night Watch", but for me it was so interesting to see paintings of
and by Mennonites!


Rembrandt's "Syndics of the Drapers' Guild"
Apparently this guy below was a Mennonite ...



Also, this beautiful portrait of an affluent Mennonite Family!






 Our bus transferred our tired feet and boggled minds to our
overnight rest stop in Volendam, North of Amsterdam.

Spaander Art Hotel - a cozy hotel by the sea where artists would
come to be inspired and pay their room fee with art!
After a delicious dinner a few of us walked the charming streets of
this peaceful fishing village along the banks/dikes of Markermeer Lake.

Volendam harbour



And then ... ZZZZZZZ (jet lag is real)

More posts to come from this marvelous adventure ... thanks for letting me share!



Till next time ... more Europe days ahead


Thursday, April 24, 2025

He's Seven!



Today's the day.
He turns SEVEN!

"My Little Love"

Photo credit - his Daddy

 Birthday blessings to my sweet, kind, huggable, sensitive, and gentle little man.
I hope YOUR day is as wonderfilled as you are
and that all your wishes will come true.

I am so proud and thankful to be your Nammie.
You always bring joy to my heart.
Love you more than you'll ever know.

God bless you and keep you.

He "ordered" an oreo cookie cake with hotwheels
Can't wait to celebrate YOU today!


An update:

Burgers and Milkshakes for the win!


Our only regret is that your Poppa won't be here to celebrate with you.
He will be spending his 75th birthday in heaven and looking down on this day.

When you were 3 ... and he loved you so much!




We enjoyed a nice Easter weekend with few photos
but no lack of delicious food and meaningful fellowship...



Poolside on Easter Sunday



Onion skin dyed eggs made in the nick of time for Easter



Coffees on the deck is in full swing.


Till next time ... stop and celebrate life's blessings.


Wednesday, April 16, 2025

April Snow Showers!

 Easter is on our doorstep,
snow showers and all ...

The lenten roses are doing their best to bloom.




Working on a block challenge for our Quilt Club ...
My free motion quilting IS THE challenge here.
I am so very much out of practice.




"Geese on the Roof"






The swan release/parade was a few weeks ago and I am so happy to
have one brought to the pond in my backyard again this year.
Welcome back!



A great way to lift spirits and have a sense of calm is to visit the local greenhouse ...
"green house bathing"




The to do list has been written and the
infamous butter lamb is being readied for our gathering.
How are your Easter preparations coming along?





Till next time ... may your heart be preparing for the holiest of days this weekend!

        Wishing you all a wonderful and blessed Easter.

Monday, March 31, 2025

Marching On

March roared in like a Lion! 




Thankfully it is "marching on" and Spring is in the air!
I can't even tell you how much of a relief that is to me ...

February felt like a year.
The world seemed and seems to be spinning in the wrong direction
and out of control.


My dear ones said good-bye to their beloved Macie Merlot,
a faithful and gentle companion for 13 years.




It's time to think happy thoughts, get my motivation back,
and get out of the Winter "slump" I've been in.
And, perhaps, stop watching the news?




New wheels and bare roads - what more could a gal ask for?




Porch sunrises and watching the snow disappear - gratefulness and hope!





A second blooming of the Christmas cactus?
It's happy too ...





St. Patrick's day. A delightful time spent with friends at a cute little spot with live music.





Spring came one day early - too soon for the porch cushions perhaps
but so enjoyed non-the-less!
Sorry if I am to blame for the cold rain and SNOW that came the next day!
By the way, the snow melted and all is as it should be -
unpredictable Spring weather.


Thinking ahead for an upcoming two week adventure in May.
Laying out and trying on some summery clothes that hopefully still fit - eek!
Do you practice packing by spreading things out on the bed?
Much editing will be needed here in order to travel as lite as possible.






These two make Spring even brighter.
Thank you God for these blessings, for longer days, and sunshine!



The hockey season is coming to a sudden close.
A very good season for both grandchildren.
Much credit to their doting dad who creates a huge backyard rink each year!
It doesn't get more Canadian than this.







As March sputters out somewhat like a wet lamb,
it's time to look up and ahead
and maybe get some Spring cleaning and unfinished projects
completed too. 


Blessings to you as we reflect and prepare for these very Holy days before Easter.
God is so Good!


Till next time ... hug each other just a little tighter





Dirk Willems and Menno Simons

  Continuing on with my Europe, 500 Years of Anabaptism tour ... Day 3 We were transported to Asperen for a walking tour and to hear the fam...