Getting Home Before Dark: Stories of Wisdom for All Ages

"Lord, let me get home before dark." That was the prayer of Peter Dyck, asking God to let him die before age robbed him of his ability to be kind, trusting, loving and generous.

"Once they were young and strong, kind and loving, but something happened," he writes. "Their generous spirits shriveled, their minds became suspicious, and they became something we thought existed only in horror stories, not in reality . . .. O Lord, please, don't let that happen to me. Let me get home before a darkness like that overtakes me."

Dyck, who passed away January 4, 2010 at the age of 95, had his prayer answered--he got home before dark. In this book of reflections and mediations he writes honestly about his various life experiences, and also of his hopes and fears about growing older. In the end, he concludes, the most important thing is faith in God and building relationships with others.

Life is exciting and rewarding, full of challenge and frustration. Yet suddenly more than half is gone, and we have done so little.

In these meditations for all ages, Dyck shares stories and insights from his wealth of experience, helping refugees, building peace, and challenging audiences. He especially promotes intergenerational family life. With all our efforts, he says, we eventually learn that our greatest satisfaction comes from relationships with other people. We often fail and need forgiveness. With Paul, we confess that we see only "in a mirror, dimly" and "know only in part." We look forward to knowing fully when we see our Lord "face to face." Meanwhile, the greatest grace is love.

Read Getting Home Before Dark, a chapter from Peter's book.
Read the Foreword
Table of Contents

Author: Peter J. Dyck
Publisher: Herald Press (VA)
Published: 11/22/2000
Pages: 272
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.70lbs
Size: 8.32h x 5.46w x 0.74d
ISBN: 9780836191356

Review Citation(s):
Christian Retailing 09/05/2000 pg. 84

About the Author
Dyck, Peter: -

Peter and Elfrieda Dyck were lifelong servants to people in need around the world. They were well known in Mennonite, Brethren in Christ and Amish communities throughout Canada, Europe, Paraguay and the United States, especially for their work with Mennonite Russian refugees and with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC).

During World War II, he served with MCC in England.

While in England he met and married Elfrieda Klassen, a nurse who also was serving with MCC. At war's end they moved to the Netherlands to direct a massive relief effort. In 1946, the Dycks set up refugee camps in Germany for thousands of Mennonites who had fled the Soviet Union. Over time, they led 5,500 Mennonites by boat to South America, predominantly Paraguay. This experience provided content for Dyck's stories and was the basis of the book, Up From the Rubble that they co-authored.

After the war Peter and Elfrieda served as administrators with MCC; he later also served as a pastor and story-teller while Elfrieda returned to nursing.

In addition to Up From the Rubble, he also wrote three children's books: The Great Shalom, Shalom at Last and Storytime Jamboree. He also wrote a meditation on growing old gracefully, Getting Home Before Dark.

Peter died on January 4, 2010. Elfrieda passed away August 20, 2004.