In Hallmark Movie Fashion

During the turbulent September 2020 Covid resurgence, middle school students, and sisters, Emerson and Olivia Beery were filled with pain as they watched several friends, classmates, and adults act in cruel ways in response to Covid-19 protocols. During school, they saw students clash with teachers and principals about masks and vaccinations. Sadly, Emerson and Olivia witnessed daily battles: us versus them, right versus wrong, and Left versus Right. And what hurt the most was that many of the people who acted the worst did it in the name of God.

“I couldn’t understand why people were so mean,” Emerson recalled, waving her right hand with newly painted pink nail polish.  

“It made me feel mad,” Olivia remembered, wrinkling her freckled nose, making her mad face.  

Emerson and Olivia were forced to consider their understanding of what it meant to walk out the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Many dinner conversations with their parents revolved around, “What should we do when people do that? What does it mean to be a Lutheran in a crazy world?” Or, as Olivia asked flatly, “How can I just make those idiots go away?”

Their parents listened and comforted them, but sometimes a guiding presence from outside the home can help escape the family echo chamber to change the narrative.
Fortunately, the Beery sisters started another school year of confirmation classes at Christ the Redeemer, Brecksville with Rev. Randy O’Donnell. Quickly, the outside world intersected with their class sessions; not as intentional lessons, but simply when Pastor Randy asked each student how they were doing, and the outside world was impossible to ignore. Both Emerson and Olivia mentioned their concerns, but Pastor Randy reaffirmed that, “It is okay to wrestle with one’s faith, have doubts, and have questions. God is about love, so when making tough decisions we, as Lutherans, err on the side of love and inclusion of people.”

In their discernment, these words helped reaffirm with Emerson and Olivia that much of the divisive actions they witnessed didn’t square with their Lutheran Theology. Pastor Randy’s expertise and care gave them the space, support, and confidence they needed. His words helped them learn what they could control and stressed that uncertainty is something we shouldn’t fear. “Love and acceptance are at our core because we all fall short of perfection,” shared Pastor Randy. “We can never do anything to make God stop loving us. The church is a critical part of this journey, and we are a welcoming place for all people, even those we might deem as idiots.” These statements reasserted that God loves them more than they can imagine—and their ultimate call is to be compassionate and accepting.

In Hallmark movie fashion, it would be convenient to report that these confirmation classes cleared up all that troubled these girls with absolute certainty. But that’s not reality. Instead, both young ladies realized that a faith life can and will breed complexity; however, with their parents, Pastor Randy, and a loving congregation, their discipleship will be continually nurtured. Further, by holding binary thoughts in their hearts and minds and leaning into uncertainty, using their intellect and awareness, and asking what can be learned in life’s trials, means that God is working in their lives. And with that, they can live boldly with love, justice, mercy, and kindness.

Your mission support to the Northeastern Ohio Synod makes it possible for Rev. Angel Jackson and the Candidacy Committee to nurture and find leaders who can have this kind of influence on young people and older folks too.  Her work has never been more important to find competent and called future leaders who feel the Spirit’s nudge. Further, Rev Jackson’s work makes the Northeastern Ohio Synod desirable for future and current pastors to come and serve in our midst to push our goal forward of having a settled and equitably paid pastor or deacon in each one of our parishes by May 2023. Thank you for your partnership and support in the work we share here in Northeastern Ohio Synod.