A Man Called Otto: Mercies Despite Feeling - Lutheran (Lamentations 3:22-23)

In the film A Man Called Otto, we meet Otto, a man wrapped tightly in the heavy fabric of despair. Picture him standing at the window of his worn, grey house, peering out at the world with a gaze dulled by depression. The vibrant colors of life outside seem muted to him, a reflection of a heart that feels trapped in shadow. Each day, he moves through the motions—going to the store, greeting neighbors with a curt nod—yet it all feels devoid of meaning.

But then, in an unexpected twist of grace, mercy begins to break through the fog. A young family moves in next door, their laughter spilling into Otto’s silence like sunlight piercing the clouds. They don’t know the darkness he carries, but their vibrant energy becomes a persistent invitation, a gentle reminder that life continues to flow even when we feel stuck. One evening, as Otto sits alone, he hears the familiar ruckus of the children playing outside—it's the sound of life, of hope. With hesitant steps, he opens the door, and their laughter washes over him like a balm.

In that moment, he experiences a glimpse of the hesed—the steadfast love—of God, even if he can’t fully feel it. It’s a love that doesn’t depend on our emotions but is declared in the very nature of God. The truth of Lamentations 3:22-23 reverberates: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.” Otto learns that mercy is not just a feeling; it’s an unwavering truth, a promise that waits for us in our darkest hours.

Dear friends, even when we cannot perceive His faithfulness, it persists, calling us to trust in the Word that assures us His mercies are new—ever-present, even when we stand in our own shadow. Let us lean into that truth, just as Otto did, and embrace the richness of God’s unfailing love, which is always at work, inviting us back into the light.