S12E2 Modus Operandi-- What's the Hope Valley Way?

True Callings, Partners and Mentors for the Win!

It would be easy to miss the first lines of Season 12’s Episode 1, but they set up the storylines I loved most last Sunday. Right at the beginning:

Elizabeth said to Rosemary, “You’re on a mission!”

And quickly follows that with “I believe in you.”

This is vintage When Calls the Heart at its best.

It’s arguably the heart of the show.

Honoring your True Calling.

If you were watching 11 years ago from the very first episode, you saw Elizabeth step out of her comfort zone to go teach far from home and what she knew. And she struggled at first. I was thinking about how Abigail came alongside her from the beginning. She didn’t try to tell her how to teach– she listened well, she asked questions and she communicated her belief in Elizabeth.

To me, this episode showcased just how much Elizabeth is now– 12 seasons later– paying that same Abigail way forward with others. We can see this with several different character storylines. It seemed like the theme– finding, working out or staying true to your calling.

For example, right after that Elizabeth and Rosemary chat, Allie walks by. She vulnerably compares herself to her close friend, Emily, who has known she wanted to be a teacher forever. She’s upset “I’m not like that”. Allie doesn’t seem reassured when Elizabeth says that “journeys don’t all start with a destination”.

Allie leaves and Nathan walks up, wondering what they were talking about. Elizabeth sums it up as “growing pains”. I think Allie represents the younger set on the cusp of the real world– wondering who they will be and what they will do after they graduate.

I was thinking about how the two people Allie looks up to the most, her dad and Mrs. Thornton, live out who they are in what they do. A big part of their identity– their confidence– is found in their jobs. I’m guessing Allie wants that to be true of her too someday.

Then there’s clumsy, eager to please Oliver– the “little Mountie”. I think he falls into a different category than Allie. He’s a little further down the path– he’s started in his field and trained as a Mountie Cadet– but according to Superintendent Hargraves he’s at the bottom of his class. Failing. It broke my heart to hear Oliver referred to as a “stray”. And even more than that, it seems that the mean boss in red wants Nathan to fail at being able to “turn him into a Mountie”.

But he doesn’t realize that the widow is Nathan’s– maybe the town’s– secret weapon. And Nathan is smart enough to ask his sweetheart for suggestions on how to help Oliver. It’s a no brainer. He knows what Elizabeth has done for Allie and others over the years. He’s had a front row seat to her methods. Elizabeth’s advice is to build Oliver’s confidence– to find him a win. Not to focus on his weaknesses and shortcomings. To try to set him up for success– something, even if it’s small, that he’s strong in and get him to firmer footing from there.

I loved the humor of Nathan saying, “I don’t know if anyone ever told you this before but you’d make an excellent teacher.” Literally arm in arm, he and Elizabeth are partners– seeing the best in each other and valuing what they do well.

Luckily, all of this is still fresh in Nathan’s mind when he comes into the office to find Oliver has spilled coffee all over the files. Instead of lecturing him about it, Nathan actually gives him a meaningful job to do related to files. He wants him to look for similarities between old and new cases. Oliver is surprised but excited. He thought he’d be taking care of the horses in the barn.

Nathan uses this phrase that stood out to me as important. “Modus Operandi”. I looked it up– it means “a particular way or method of doing something”. If you remember episode 1 was titled, “The Mountie Way”. It feels like there’s an intentional emphasis on the right or best way to do things this season. That’s been figured out by trial and error over the years personally and as a community.

Shortly after this scene in Nathan’s office, Elizabeth’s up in front of her class, writing on the chalkboard, like she has many times before. “Civics” The only difference is, literally everyone except for Allie, is distracted reading comic books. She’s obviously frustrated by this, but instead of lecturing them, she pivots in true Mrs. Thornton style. She tells them to put down the comic books and meet her outside.

Then Elizabeth has this epic line that felt like Mary Poppins before a grand adventure. When asked by Allie “Where are we going?” (note: the teen still wants to know the destination before she begins!), her teacher responds with an enigmatic “To exactly where we need to be”. Love it!

Elizabeth leads the class in an active, discovery process like she has so many times before. Asking them thought provoking questions about what civics has to do with nature and encouraging them to go out and explore the beauty all around them. When they find a print, she helps them brainstorm a way they can take it back to the classroom for more study. The result?

In Nathan’s words, “It certainly seems like you helped Allie find a win… You know, I always knew she loved the outdoors, but she can not stop talking about this.” Elizabeth smiled at that, but said “I don’t know that I gave her a win. She just found something that lit her up.”

This is the goal for parents, teachers, coaches and mentors everywhere. Help them find something that excites them. That they literally can’t stop thinking about. One of my favorite definitions of true CALLING is where your passion meets the world’s needs. If you can find that special overlap, it’s truly a sweet spot– not just on the screen, but in real life.

But it’s not just the young people on the show trying to work out their callings– it can be a lifetime pursuit.

Henry keeps trying to retire and live the simple life. But his care of Abigail’s trees have paid off (I think this metaphor is perfect for this season) in a huge harvest— an abundance. Joseph thinks Henry should try and sell them. At first Henry resists, but then he sees the perfect collaboration— an opportunity for the kids who want pocket money to buy comic books to help him bring in his crop before it’s ruined. But it’s Emily that makes it magical. I loved the twist of the magazine she read being a business one so much! She even applied what she read in the articles theres to make it more fun– playing music while they all work. Maybe she won’t be a teacher after all if Henry is her mentor in the business world!

But this is key– Henry says he won’t do any of it without Joseph as his partner in this new venture. They shake on it— give their word and promise to figure it out together (with Emily of course).

I was struck by how this contrasts with what happened between Lucas and Lee this same episode. Lee leaves his family to go to Capital City to help make the national park a reality. Unfortunately, Edwin slithers back into the picture offering his “services” too. And Edwin has a very different way of making things happen than Lee. He’s looking for compromises with power players.

Later in his Capital City office, Lucas is trying to explain to Lee why they are putting the park project on hold for now. Lee asks a crucial mic drop question: “What are we doing here if it’s not to accomplish things like this?” Lee goes on to say that Edwin has been sending him out to meaningless meetings, to get him out of the way. It’s not meaningful work. It’s not what he agreed to. And so Lee is going home. “I’m not spending another second away from my family for this charade.” Lee is trying to remind Lucas of the right way or Modus Operandi. It’s also interesting how he points out that Lucas is trying to make everyone happy, but ironically, the governor looks miserable.

Meanwhile, back at home, Rosemary’s been going through her own challenge. She’s reinventing herself and adapting again. The newspaper readership is down and radio is the new big thing. So in true Rosie style, she decides to launch her own radio hour– to put the news on the air waves. Elizabeth and Ned hang a big sign so everyone will know. But she’s not happy about that at all. She’s sure everyone is going to witness her public failure now. Her journalist enemy is talking trash about her idea and deep down she worries he’s right. That she doesn’t have what it takes– that this is a doomed endeavor before she even tries.

I’m not sure about you, but I could so relate to all this. This was extremely well done. It’s almost paralyzing all the fears that flood our minds when we stretch ourselves into uncharted territory. But luckily her ride-or-die friend Elizabeth is right there. She asks questions about when she was successful before to stop her from spiraling out further. This helps Rosemary realize that the story finds her. So Elizabeth helps her reframe the narrative as “You’re a sailboat just waiting on wind”. There’s hope in that. There’s power in that.

And that’s when Rosemary realizes the perfect topic isn’t the award winning pig but how comic books affect children. She had enough to get started. To believe it just might work. That’s all she needed. And Elizabeth is in the front row cheering her on when Rosie goes live. Her teacher friend even knows the perfect person to find and add the conflict or the counterpoint that was missing to make it all more compelling… Florence (who has been secretly reading said comic books! The humor in this episode is spot on.)

There’s a lot here to celebrate. Nathan even invites Oliver to come to family dinner to celebrate the good work he did with the files and all the connections he made. Hostess Elizabeth doesn’t miss a beat when Oliver hands her a can of beans as his contribution to the potluck.

Nathan took Elizabeth’s suggestion a step further. He invited Oliver into more than a post. He offers this “stray” a place of belonging and acceptance just as you are, in and out of the office. He joins Uncle Bill, Rosemary holding Goldie along with Allie and Little Jack. They even need an extra table to fit everyone. (Lift with your legs!) The conversation and laughter flowed as they ate.

And my favorite part– an impromptu game of tag behind the row houses with Allie, Little Jack and Oliver too. They even pressure Bill to join them while a content Elizabeth and Nathan watch from the back door.

Back in Season 10, remember when Elizabeth was the one looking on as Nathan joined Allie, Little Jack and Scout (the other stray) in a game of tag at the park? She had a hint- a vision- of what her future could look like right there.

And that’s why Nathan reacted so strongly to the idea of her leaving with Lucas for Capital City– that would have been a very different life. He wanted her to be honest about what she really wanted and envisioned for herself and Jack. Where they would be happiest. Because she was brave and faced her fears, she’s living that reality, leaning up against Nathan with a full heart.

I love how Elizabeth asked Nathan then, “Do you think Oliver arrived at your doorstep for a reason?” Nathan might not be sure, but we are. Elizabeth goes on to say, “He’s lucky to have you.” There’s that “Lucky” word again from Episode 1. Noted. Nathan says back– “I’m lucky to have you.”

I saw a few comments online that some fans were disappointed in episode 2 because it wasn’t as “romantic” as the premiere. I strongly disagree. I think this episode solidifies this couple as true partners who are seamlessly blending their lives and loves, even inviting others into their chosen family.

I thought Rosemary singing “It is well with my soul” to Goldie as Lee arrives home was the perfect ending and reminder of what matters most. What happens when you prioritize the right things and step out in faith, using your God-given gifts and abilities to help the world around you, especially those around your table, next door and down the street. It’s the Heartie way!

This is what Nathan and Elizabeth have in common that’s core to them. They’ve never strayed from their vocation or true calling. It’s why Elizabeth so passionately rejected the idea of Nathan leaving the Mounties to be with her back in Season 8. It’s a cornerstone of who he is: a protector. Just like Elizabeth is a teacher: a nurturer. Which is why they make such a strong pair. It’s why there are so many amazing stories left to be told– to put the hope in Hope Valley.

I can’t wait for Episode 3 tomorrow night. What do you think so far? What are you looking forward to? What are you wondering about? Love to talk with you in the comments– Cara