Peter and Anna Dyck: Life and Legacy

⭐ 10/10

I know the author, and this book was a long time coming. It is the result of a huge amount of research and interviewing, and for some reason I was a bit hesitant to start it. It's not only personal for my family, but also for the author, whose family tree shares roots with my own. I had it earmarked for a vacation read, when I could devote uninterrupted time to it, but then on a day off I decided to dive in. I finished it in one day.

I'm glad I didn't choose to read this on vacation around other people, because it is not an exaggeration to say I was wiping away tears every chapter. I found my grandparent's story so moving, not only because it emphasized family dynamics and trials that I was aware of, but because it uncovered sacrifices and acts of love that I was not.

Joe paints a crystal clear picture of the Mexico they came from and eventually left, an unfathomable life decision that feels so far away from the life I now live 2 generations later. I found the decisions they made rippling down to my current day so touching, clarifying my own identity and place in my own family. I gained a fresh understanding of the dynamics of my dad's family, a family I have been distant from. The connection and love I feel for all of them has completely changed because of this story, and how many books can you truly say will alter your relationship with your family?

Most of all I felt pride. For all the ways I thought my grandparents were old fashioned, they were true radicals! Not only their move, but their commitment to their faith, and how that faith evolved, is one of the most beautiful things I have read. I have only known my grandpa as a pastor, but the retelling of how he made that choice made me feel the same agony he felt, along with the most intense pride in them. My grandma has always been quiet but busy, but the extent of her servant's heart can not be understated. She raised 8 children! They showed a selflessness I can't begin to understand, and I feel that my faith has been changed because of this story.

The same goes for my father, with a bunch of pieces of his story I had never heard before! What he went through shone a light on my current privilege that only exists because of him. Particularly his desire to go to school. It brought me right back to our own conversation in my childhood bedroom about attending University. He had faith that it would work out despite many financial questions and gave me his blessing to leave home, and putting that in the context of his own story felt like a missing puzzle piece to my own story. Coupled with my grandfather's involvement in the early Mennonite schools, the convergence was powerful.

Another thing that struck me is how recent everything feels. My family has undergone massive changes all in a couple decades, and this isn't particularly unique! The immigrant experience is so fascinating, and so easy to disconnect from a couple generations down the line. The desire to preserve a way of life and core values while also making a better life for your kids is such an interesting balance, and my favourite parts of this book were the stories of the kids straying from the golden path. The fact that the family went through trials makes the ultimate reconciliation the heart of this book, and I was moved to tears by many of the stories of my aunts and uncles, of whom I knew less about. It has lit in me a desire to also hold to tradition a bit more tightly, or to at least ensure my children know where they come from.

I found myself thinking about my own life, the amount of time I have for hobbies and interests. The promise of technology is that it will make our lives easier, with more time to pursue newer interesting challenges, but I realized the hard work and sacrifice of my grand parents is what actually unlocked this for me. I work in a field that didn't exist when they came to Canada, and I have hobbies to fill every spare moment of my day, and I felt shamed by the level of dedication they showed at all stages in their life, paving the road for my relatively hurdle-less existence.

This book also added significance and meaning to places I have known my whole life. The stuffy school we did gatherings in was where my aunts and uncles went to school, a school my grandfather played a large part in forming. The church I felt out of place at for weddings and funerals was the result of tons of labour from early Ontario Mennonites, a place my grandparents poured their entire lives into. The culmination of this new way of life, breaking a cycle of poverty, was their house that I went to all the time. It all feels truly cinematic, and its one of millions of other immigrant stories.

One final reflection, the day I read this was a day I had off work, where I was snowed in and home alone with my son. This child that I want the best for, who resembles those who came before him. This child that I worry will be bullied in school because of his last name, the same way his dad and aunts and uncles were, and the same way my aunts and uncles were. As I read about my place in history and thought about my son's I was overwhelmed by the number of sacrifices, the amount of selflessness, that led to me living in that comfortable moment. It was humbling, and felt even divinely appointed, the day after telling my wife I felt lazy and unmotivated for not having New Year's resolutions. Its a day I will remember forever, a series of perfect moments in a perfect day with my son. This book kick started my year, inspiring me to live with the faith and courage of those who came before me, and praying that my legacy can be one of humility and service as well. It's in my blood, after all.

At the end of the day my best friend wrote a biography of my grandparents, so this was almost literally made for me. This will be a text that will be reread in my house, and required reading for my own kids. I can't express the blessing and fullness this book has brought me. It was the perfect gift for me and my family, and I would encourage everyone to investigate their own histories in this way. Or give Joe a call and let him do it for you.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7160126070