Adventures in Odyssey

Chris: Hi, this is Chris. Welcome to Adventures in Odyssey.

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": Hi there. I’m John Avery Whittaker, but you can call me Whit. My friends and I are about to set off for a time of wonder and excitement. You want to come along? We'd love to have you join us for today's Adventure in Odyssey.

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": I hope your program goes well, Courtney.

Courtney Vincent: I think it will if I can get this lock off my bike. Thanks for watching me rehearse.

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": Oh, my pleasure. You know, you have the makings of a wonderful ballerina.

Courtney Vincent: Yeah, I hope to join a national tour when I grow up.

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": Well, you certainly have the experience. Do you want some help?

Courtney Vincent: No, thanks. I guess I’m a little nervous. I keep messing up this combo. Hey, got it! Maybe I’ll come back with my parents for an ice cream sundae celebration.

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": Okay, and be careful. The crosswalk, Courtney. Use the crosswalk. Watch out, Courtney! Courtney! Courtney! Courtney, Courtney.

Courtney Vincent: Where am I? Hospital? Why am I in a hospital?

Guest (Female): Hi, honey.

Courtney Vincent: Mom?

Guest (Male): We’re both here, sweetheart.

Courtney Vincent: But where?

Dr. Morton: Dr. Morton. Tell me what you remember.

Courtney Vincent: I was in front of Whit’s End and—oh no. I didn’t see the car coming. I got hit. Wait a minute, my ballet program. Dad, I have to go.

Guest (Male): Don’t worry about that now, Courtney. Just lie still.

Courtney Vincent: But I’m going—what happened to my leg? What’s all that junk?

Dr. Morton: It’s traction. It’s to help your leg get better.

Courtney Vincent: What’s wrong with my leg?

Dr. Morton: It was caught between your bike and the car when you got hit. You fractured your knee.

Courtney Vincent: But what does that mean? What about my ballet?

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John Avery Whittaker "Whit": Hello, Courtney.

Courtney Vincent: Hi, Mr. Whittaker.

Jenny: Hello, Jenny. Hi, Courtney.

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": The chair is to your right, Jenny. We saw your parents in the hall, and they said to come in. How are you feeling now that you've had a couple of days to recuperate?

Courtney Vincent: My knee hurts a little, but not enough to keep me in the hospital. I’m ready to go home.

Jenny: So, what’s keeping you?

Courtney Vincent: Dr. Morton said I need time in traction, and time in a knee brace, and time in therapy.

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": That sounds like a lot of time. Well, if that’s what it takes to heal your knee properly, then I’m sure it’ll be worth it.

Jenny: Boy, you must have a lot of flowers in here.

Courtney Vincent: Yeah, how can you tell?

Jenny: I can’t see, but I can sure smell. They must be beautiful.

Courtney Vincent: A lot of them are from my ballet class. This accident is making me miss the tryouts for the State Ballet Company.

Jenny: I never heard how your accident happened.

Courtney Vincent: It was my fault. I was late for my program and wasn't watching where I was going. I ran my bike right in front of a car.

Jenny: That’s too bad.

Courtney Vincent: It sure was, but I’m pretty lucky.

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": Blessed is the better word.

Courtney Vincent: Yeah, apart from a few cuts and bruises, my knee is the only thing that got hurt. But I’m sure it’ll be okay.

Jenny: Is that what the doctor said?

Courtney Vincent: No, nobody’s told me anything yet. I guess they’re still waiting to see. But it doesn’t matter. I’m a ballerina, and my leg has to get better.

Guest (Male): All right, Dr. Morton. We’re ready.

Dr. Morton: I want to thank you for being so patient. I didn’t want to rush drawing any conclusions about Courtney’s knee until I had the X-rays and tests back.

Guest (Female): How bad is it? Will it heal?

Dr. Morton: It’ll heal.

Guest (Female): Thank God.

Dr. Morton: But it won’t be as good as it was before.

Guest (Male): What do you mean?

Dr. Morton: The damage to the knee is extensive, not only the bone but the ligaments. You can see on this X-ray here and here. She’ll be able to walk without much of a limp after time and therapy.

Guest (Male): But what?

Dr. Morton: But I’m afraid the knee is permanently damaged. It’ll never be able to endure the rigors of ballet.

Guest (Male): Wait a minute. You don’t seem to understand how much ballet means to Courtney.

Dr. Morton: Oh, I do. I watched her in *Swan Lake* last year, and she was the most graceful dancer I’ve ever seen. But there isn’t anything I can do about it, at least not medically. I’m so sorry.

Guest (Female): But how will we tell her?

Dr. Morton: I wish I knew, Mrs. Vincent. Courtney? Sweetheart?

Guest (Male): Courtney, did you hear what we said? You understand what it means, Courtney?

Guest (Female): Sweetheart, it’s important that you understand. Do you?

Courtney Vincent: I understand, but I don’t believe it. I’ll work hard. I can do my ballet again.

Guest (Male): But Dr. Morton made it very clear that you can’t.

Guest (Female): I know it’s hard. It hurts.

Courtney Vincent: Dr. Morton is wrong. I’ll do the therapy and fix my knee. I can do it. I know I can. Dr. Morton is wrong. You watch. It’s all I ever wanted to be. I’m a ballerina, Mom. I’m a ballerina.

Jenny: Mr. Whittaker? Mr. Whittaker?

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": In here, Jenny.

Jenny: I don’t know where "here" is.

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": I’m sorry. The Room of Consequence.

Jenny: How will I ever find my way around if you keep putting in these new inventions?

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": I’m sorry. Are you ready to go to the hospital?

Jenny: In just a minute. I’d like to put one last command into this computer. Do you mind?

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": No, just that we’re not late for Courtney’s big coming out. I promised her I’d be there. You’ve been spending a lot of time with her.

Jenny: She hated being in traction, and the knee brace was uncomfortable. But not as hard as the physical therapy.

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": I mean, how’s she doing emotionally? I know she took it pretty hard when she found out she had to give up ballet.

Jenny: Well, I don’t think she really believes she’ll have to. She keeps talking like she’ll go back to it.

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": Really?

Jenny: I was like that when I lost my sight. I kept believing that the blindness wouldn’t last, that it would come back if I worked hard or had some kind of therapy or prayed.

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": I suppose that’s normal. Must be hard to let go of something one prizes. Eyesight for you, ballet for Courtney. There, I’m ready now. Shall we go?

Jenny: What were you programming?

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": Oh, I’m putting together something for Courtney in the Room of Consequence. It’s kind of like the Imagination Station.

Jenny: You’re going to send her back in time?

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": No. Forward in time.

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": Well, look who’s here. Hello, Courtney.

Courtney Vincent: Hi, Mr. Whittaker.

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": It’s been ages since I’ve seen you.

Courtney Vincent: You came when I left the hospital.

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": What do you know? And it’s been ages since you’ve graced Whit’s End with your presence. It’s nice to have you back.

Courtney Vincent: I was thinking about that when I got to the front door. I haven’t been here since the accident.

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": Oh, does it bring back bad memories?

Courtney Vincent: Not really. It’s kind of like a dream.

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": How’s physical therapy?

Courtney Vincent: Can’t you tell? Look.

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": You’re walking very nicely. Not even a limp. I’ll bet most people won’t know you ever had an accident.

Courtney Vincent: I hope so. I’m going back to my ballet group today.

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": Really?

Courtney Vincent: Just to visit, for now. I don’t want them to forget me. I’m going to join pretty soon. I think my knee’s gotten strong.

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": Dr. Morton said it was all right?

Courtney Vincent: I don’t listen to Dr. Morton anymore. She’s a spoilsport. No faith. But I’ve been working real hard at the physical therapy, and I think I can do my ballet again.

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": What do your parents think?

Courtney Vincent: They keep saying we’ll see in time. But I think we’ve had enough time.

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": Which reminds me, I have a program I’d like you to try on a new invention of mine whenever you’re ready, of course.

Courtney Vincent: Maybe sometime. I don’t want to miss my ballet.

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": Right. Well, it’ll be waiting for you when you’re ready.

Courtney Vincent: Thanks. See ya.

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": And don’t forget to use the crosswalk.

Courtney Vincent: I won’t!

Guest (Female): Courtney! Honey, I’m going into town.

Courtney Vincent: Wait a minute, Mom. I’m coming with you.

Guest (Female): Are you? Well, okay. Let’s go. That’s very nice, but are you sure you want to wear your ballerina outfit to go shopping?

Courtney Vincent: I don’t want to go shopping, Mom. I want to join my ballet troupe again.

Guest (Female): Courtney, we’ve talked about—

Courtney Vincent: I can do it, Mom. I know I can. Even Mr. Martin says my knee is strong.

Guest (Female): Mr. Martin’s a physical therapist, not your doctor.

Courtney Vincent: But I can do it. Just watch me. I’ll do a pirouette right here.

Guest (Female): Sweetheart, watch. Courtney, please don’t.

Courtney Vincent: Watch me. She bows, she turns, and she spins.

Guest (Female): Courtney! Sweetheart, are you all right? Oh, Courtney.

Courtney Vincent: Mom, I’ll never be a ballerina again. Never.

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John Avery Whittaker "Whit": Courtney? We’re getting near closing time. Is there anything I can get you or do for you?

Courtney Vincent: No, thank you.

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": How’s your knee?

Courtney Vincent: Dr. Morton said I’ll have to wear the brace again for a while. I guess it was pretty stupid to whirl around the kitchen like that, thinking I could be a ballerina again.

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": Courtney, healing a knee that’s been damaged the way yours was isn’t always possible.

Courtney Vincent: I prayed. In Sunday school, they said God can heal anything.

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": He can, but that doesn’t mean He always will.

Courtney Vincent: He will if He loves me.

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": Giving you exactly what you want isn’t always the mark of true love. Maybe He won’t heal you because He loves you. Maybe He has reasons. You see, God knows the bigger picture of your life, what waits ahead.

Courtney Vincent: What can wait ahead? I was supposed to be a ballerina. I know there’s nothing waiting for me.

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": Have you ever read Romans 8:28? Well, it’s something the Apostle Paul wrote. He said, "We know that everything works together for good for those who love God and are called according to His plan."

Courtney Vincent: So, what does that mean?

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": That means God knows what He’s doing. He’s working everything out even when it doesn’t seem like it sometimes. Like this problem with your knee. Sure, it hurts to have to give up something you love, but God can take that and turn it into something wonderful if you let Him.

Courtney Vincent: I don’t know if I can.

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": Maybe there’s a way to help you. Come over here to the Room of Consequence.

Courtney Vincent: The room of what?

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": It’s kind of like the Imagination Station, except it’s a room that’ll let you peek into a possible future.

Courtney Vincent: But I don’t want to go into the future. I want to get into the Imagination Station and go back. That’s what I’ve been thinking about. I could go back to the day of my accident and change it. I’ll use the crosswalk. I’ll watch out for the car.

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": It doesn’t work that way, Courtney.

Courtney Vincent: Then what am I going to do? The Room of Consequence. How will it help me? Will it make me a ballerina again?

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": Not really, but there are other things it can do.

Courtney Vincent: Like what?

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": Well, that’ll be up to you. Will you at least give it a try?

Courtney Vincent: I guess there’s nothing else to do.

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": Okay, just step inside.

Courtney Vincent: It’s dark in here. Mr. Whittaker? What’s that? Hello? Is somebody there?

Jenny: Hi, Courtney.

Courtney Vincent: Jenny? What are you doing here?

Jenny: Waiting for you.

Courtney Vincent: Really? So, Whit got you to be part of his invention. The room. Look, Jenny, is there anybody else here?

Jenny: They went on without us.

Courtney Vincent: Went on where?

Jenny: To the ice skating rink. They asked me to wait for you so we could talk.

Courtney Vincent: I’m confused.

Jenny: I’m sorry, Courtney, but over the last couple of years, it’s been hard for you, I know.

Courtney Vincent: Couple of years?

Jenny: To be honest, ever since the accident.

Courtney Vincent: The accident? Couple of years?

Jenny: I don’t know the polite way to say it, Courtney, but the kids just don’t like being around you anymore. All you talk about is the accident and how you couldn’t be a ballerina. Everybody wishes you’d just get on with your life.

Courtney Vincent: Now wait a minute.

Jenny: I’m sorry, but they wanted me to tell you. It’s been two years. Everybody’s tired of it. Me included. I’ve tried to be your friend. I’ve tried to help. But you won’t let go of the pain, the anger. I’m sorry, Courtney.

Courtney Vincent: Hold on, Jenny. Wait a minute. Jenny! Jenny! Mr. Whittaker! Mr. Whittaker! What’s that? Who’s playing that music? Hey!

Guest (Male): Darling!

Guest (Female): Elaine!

Guest (Male): Hello, Andrew. How did it go?

Courtney Vincent: Mom, Dad, hey, it’s me.

Guest (Male): The pastor had a lot of insight, but nothing that really helps us, at least not right now.

Guest (Female): What do you mean?

Courtney Vincent: Is this some kind of game? Ignore Courtney day or something?

Guest (Male): Well, he said that Courtney’s going through a time of searching and rebellion. It happens to a lot of girls when they first go to college.

Courtney Vincent: College?

Guest (Female): We already knew that. I thought if he talked to her—

Guest (Male): Well, he did talk to her. You won’t believe it. It’s the accident.

Guest (Female): Not that again.

Guest (Male): Honest, that’s what he said. He talked to her for an hour and a half. Pretty good, considering she won’t talk to us at all.

Guest (Female): What does that mean?

Guest (Male): By the end of it, he felt her problem had to do with the accident. He said it’s like she’s never forgiven God for wrecking her plans to become a ballerina, for wrecking her life.

Guest (Female): Oh, no.

Guest (Male): All these years, she’s kept it bottled up. It’s ruined her deep inside, spoiled her attitude, her spirit, everything.

Courtney Vincent: I don’t believe this. It’s a trick, right? Mr. Whittaker put you up to it. We should have known.

Guest (Male): We guessed, but how can we know when she won’t talk to us?

Guest (Female): It’s terrible to love her so much and to lose her. What can we do?

Guest (Male): The only thing we know to do. Pray for her, again.

Courtney Vincent: Wait, Mom, Dad, wait. Mom, you didn’t lose me. Mom, I’m not lost, I’m right here. I’ll talk to you. Mom! Mom!

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": Courtney.

Courtney Vincent: Mr. Whittaker, I’m glad you’re here.

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": Well, I’m glad you’re here. Sit down.

Courtney Vincent: Sit down? But where?

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": We need to talk. I think it’s time we sorted this thing out.

Courtney Vincent: Sort what out?

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": I like having you around Whit’s End, but there’s a point when it’s just too much. It’s not healthy for someone your age to hang around all day.

Courtney Vincent: But I have—

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": I know it’s been hard since you dropped out of college. A lot of people can’t figure out what they want to do. But sitting around here all day won’t help.

Courtney Vincent: You’re throwing me out?

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": No, I’ll help you anyway I can, but I want my help to be constructive. That’s why I wanted to talk to you, to be completely honest. You showed so much promise. You had so much going for you. But look at you, Courtney.

Courtney Vincent: Promise? What promise?

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": You had talents, gifts, but you let your bitterness swallow them up. God gave you so much, and you tossed it all aside. For what?

Courtney Vincent: Why are you saying these things? You put me in this invention. It wasn’t my idea.

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": I’m saying these things because I hate to see you waste yourself the way you have. I remember what you were like. You had that wonderful mixture of discipline and passion. You had the discipline to work hard day in and day out to be the best ballerina you could be, but you had the love and passion for it too. Why did you give it up?

Courtney Vincent: You were there! You saw I got hit by a car.

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": Of course I did, and it was tragic. But you didn’t have to let it stop your life. You could have put all that discipline and passion into something else.

Courtney Vincent: But I will! It’s not too late, is it? I can still try. This is just a game, right? It’s an invention. None of this is really happening to me. Is it? Mr. Whittaker? Hello? Hello? Who keeps playing that song? Hello?

Pastor Dean Jackson: Hi, can I help you?

Courtney Vincent: Oh, well, I’m not sure.

Pastor Dean Jackson: You’re here for the lessons. A new student. My wife has so many now, I can’t keep track of them all. I’m Pastor Dean Jackson.

Courtney Vincent: Hi. This isn’t Whit’s End?

Pastor Dean Jackson: Whit’s End? I’m sorry, it isn’t. But haven’t we met before? You look awfully familiar.

Courtney Vincent: I don’t think so.

Pastor Dean Jackson: Follow me. She’s this way.

Courtney Vincent: Where’s that music coming from?

Pastor Dean Jackson: Wonderful, isn’t it? That’s my wife. She practices in the sanctuary. I love the way it fills the whole church, don’t you?

Courtney Vincent: It’s beautiful. Does she play for an orchestra or something like that?

Pastor Dean Jackson: She could, with any orchestra in the country, but she won’t do it. She wants to help people through her playing, by teaching as well as performing. And that’s what she’s been doing here at the church.

She’s wonderful. She often plays for the church services at nursing homes and places like that. There’s something about her talent that touches lives in a way that only music can, in a way my preaching can’t.

Courtney Vincent: Music is like that, I guess. I’ll bet she’s been playing a long time.

Pastor Dean Jackson: Only since college. Before that, she wanted to be a—well, I’ll let her tell you about that. She likes her students to know what happened. God’s taken her down some interesting paths to get her where she is now.

Courtney Vincent: What kind of paths?

Pastor Dean Jackson: Oh, she’ll tell you herself. But she had a very difficult time coping with some sudden changes to her plans. But as usual, God spun all the circumstances around to reveal His own plan. Here we are. She’s this way. Darling, there’s someone here I want you to meet. This is my wife, Courtney, and I’d like you to meet—oh, I’m sorry, I was rattling on and didn’t get your name.

Courtney Vincent: I’m Courtney.

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": Hi, Courtney. How did it go?

Courtney Vincent: I’m not sure. Was it real? I mean, is that what’s going to happen to me?

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": Like I said, you saw only a few of the possibilities.

Courtney Vincent: But it was me in there, my story.

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": Well, that depends on you and how much you depend on God. You see, so many things are possible. So much can happen, not only between now and when you grow up, but between now and the next minute. God controls the events, but then we control our reaction to those events, which in turn controls events too.

Courtney Vincent: That sounds confusing.

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": Yeah, it’s the mystery that surrounds the sovereignty of God.

Courtney Vincent: The sovereignty?

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": Yes, His will and our will. His kingship and our being subjects. You’re looking more confused, Courtney.

A very wise man once painted a better illustration. He pointed out that we’re like actors on a stage who are trying to guess the plot of the play. We don’t know what’ll happen next or how the play will ultimately turn out because we aren’t the author or even the director.

In fact, we’re not even part of the audience, so we can’t see things from that point of view. Are we in Act One or Act Three? Are we major or minor characters? Only the author knows. We know only as much as we can see in the scene we’re playing right at this moment. And we must play that scene to the very best of our ability, with the best attitude and faith we can have. Does that help?

Courtney Vincent: Yeah, I think so. So, maybe I should stop thinking about being a ballerina and become an actor?

John Avery Whittaker "Whit": I don’t know. There are a lot of things you could do. The key is to give yourself some time, pray about it, and let God take you on a wonderful adventure.

Chris: In the Lord’s Prayer, we say, "For Thine is the kingdom," but a lot of times we don’t understand that to recognize His kingdom, we have to recognize His kingship and control in our lives as members of His kingdom. That means holding onto our faith in God even when we come up against some unexpected disappointments and tragic turns in our lives. We have to believe that God will work them out for our good in His own time, like the wonderful King that He is.

Thank you for listening and for writing to us. We get a lot of wonderful mail from our listeners. Your compliments, ideas, and suggestions are always welcome. Our address is Odyssey, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80995. Or in Canada, write to Box 9800, Vancouver, BC, V6B 4G3. Don’t forget to ask how you can get a copy of today’s episode. It’s called "For Thine is the Kingdom." That address again is Odyssey, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80995.

Adventures in Odyssey is a presentation of Focus on the Family. "For Thine is the Kingdom" was written and directed by Paul McCusker. Our production engineer was Dave Arnold, and Chuck Bolte is our executive producer. And I’m Chris, hoping you’ll join us again next time for more Adventures in Odyssey.