Hochmut and Demut

Today I carefully sutured the tip of the Amish man's finger and wondered for the hundreth time how my Amish patients remain
so calm. It doesnt matter if they are 5 or 95 there is never an ounce of hysteria or fear even in emergencies. I have come to expect stoic peaceful Amish patients. This man nearly cut off his finger in a meat grinder, yet as I unwrapped the towel from his blood spurting finger he said "well, if I knew the bone wasn't broken I probably wouldn't have come in". What would be an emergency to us "English", to the plain clothes folk it is just another day.

I was so fascinated by this aspect of their culture that I had to do a little research. I found there are two key concepts to understand the Amish way of life; Hochmut and Demut. They reject all Hochmut or pride and arrogance, while highly valuing Demut or humility, and Gelassenheit or calmness and composure. They accept everything that comes into their lives as "God's Will" whether it be a miscarriage, a death, a stillborn baby, a stroke. They are so peaceful that it facilitates an immediate change in my demeanor and the way I approach these patients.

One prime example of hochmut and demut put into action is childbirthIt has been eye opening to watch a traditional hospital birth, versus the Amish clinic labor and delivery. These woman are composed through some of the most painful and stressful times of labor. It is remarkable.