Old Order Mennonite Memoirs

The accumulation of fabric fragments under my feet distracted me. As I kicked them aside again I thought about the second law of thermodynamics which states that "the total amount of energy in the universe remains unchanged, but some energy is always becoming unavailable for useful work."

This "law" plagues us. For a week of cozy wood heat, I carry out a pan of dusty, unwanted ashes. For a hot meal to relieve hunger pangs, I let dirty, unwanted dish water flow down the drain. For clean clothes to wear, there is even more, dirty, unwanted water.

Often the amount of unwanted substance is mo...