Nebraska Synod ELCA

If you are in need of a book to use to start some great discussions, you have got to get your hands on this.  I have heard folks in congregations say “We’re not racist, we don’t have to deal with that here, this is Nebraska.”  When I hear that, I often think how much easier it is to pretend that something isn’t real than actually to dig into our own hearts and make changes.  This book takes place here, on the streets you walk on and in the stores in which you shop.  This makes it clear that this isn’t an issue for everyone else, this is an issue for us.

The book follows the lives of two sisters from Omaha and some of the experiences they have had as they were growing up.  The conversation is sharp and witty as if you were on the phone with them.  There are parts that will make you laugh aloud as you read, and parts that will make you feel embarrassed to be a Nebraskan.  Those are the bits that really start to address who we are as Nebraskans and how we can grow.

After these last two years, we all feel as thought we’ve been a bit secluded in our homes.  This was the first book that I’ve read during pandemic time that made me want to push back out into the community and start conversations so that I could hear more about what others are experiencing.  Even though the authors are writing about their pain and their hurts, they also write about their joys and their laughter.  It’s a story about family, and the importance of reminding our children to be strong and true.

If you’re like me, you might want to buy it in bulk.  I’ve been handing it out to all my friends, because I want to talk about it with everyone.