Adventures in Odyssey Home Page

Missing Person

Album: Gold Audio 08: Beyond Expectations

Episode: 121

Lesson/Theme: You can't run away from your problems.

Bible Verse: Luke 15:11-32

Characters: Bart, Lucy, Eugene, Whit, Rodney

Writer: Paul McCusker

Sound Designer: Dave Arnold

Original Air Date: July 28, 1990

Last Air Date: June 18, 2008

Description:
It's carnival time in Odyssey, and young Rodney Rathbone is missing. Officer Patrick O'Ryan is investigating at Whit's End. He interviews his father, Bart. Bart is impatient and thinks that Harley isn't doing enough to find Steve. When O'Ryan suggests that Rodney might have run away, Bart gets angry and walks off to the woods, where Rodney was last seen going to baseball practice that morning. Harley then makes his way over to Jay Brandt's house. Jay, a member of the Bones of Rath, mentions that Rodney skipped out on baseball practice because he hates the game, so there's no use looking for Rodney around there. Meanwhile, Isaac and Lucy are walking through the woods when they see Officer O'Ryan at Rodney's house. Isaac wishes Rodney would get arrested, but Lucy tells him that isn't very Christian. They stumble through the woods (following Isaac's "shortcut") and find the old Gower barn. Isaac goes inside the barn and finds...Rodney! He's trapped under some boards because it collapsed. Lucy goes for help as Isaac stays behind. Rodney tells Isaac that his dad is so angry and doesn't listen to him, but Isaac tells Rodney that his dad really loves him. Later, after the rescue team arrives on the scene, Bart and Rodney agree to talk about the softball issue. Bart reaffirms his love for his son. Rodney wonders if Isaac was right after all.

Questions:
Why did Rodney run away? The Bible tells us to honor our parents. Why was it dishonoring to Rodney's parents when he ran away? How could you help a friend who is determined to run away?