Adventures in Odyssey Home Page

Isaac the Pure

Album: Gold Audio 13: It All Started When

Episode: 180

Lesson/Theme: Purity.

Bible Verse: Matthew 5:8

Characters: Sam, Whit

Writer: Paul McCusker

Sound Designer: Dave Arnold

Original Air Date: January 11, 1992

Last Air Date: August 28, 2008

Description:
It all started one afternoon on the way to Whit's End. Sam notices that his good friend Isaac is unusually quiet. After a lot of coaxing from Sam, Isaac finally reveals that he feels bad about laughing when the gang starts telling dirty jokes after school. Isaac says the jokes make him feel dirty, and he wants to be pure. Isaac first starts his purity campaign by ridding his house of all the things that make him feel impure, including his father's Reader's Digest and National Geographic magazines. Mr. Morton isn't pleased by this, though he does admire Isaac's desire to be pure. Then, Isaac gathers all of his possessions and takes them to Hamstrung's Junk Shop. He trades them for an old, useless clock. Isaac's plan is to keep himself so busy cleaning and repairing the clock, he'll have no time to think impure thoughts. Unfortunately, later that week, Isaac runs across Sam. Sam tells him some of the gang's new jokes, the last of which turns out to be a little crude. Isaac laughs in spite of himself, then suddenly realizes that he's acted impurely again! As a result, Isaac concludes that he must seclude himself so he can remain untouched by the impurities of the world. Everyone thinks he's gone a little crazy, until Whit comes over and sets Isaac straight. Isaac learns from Whit the true meaning of purity. And, thanks to Isaac's efforts, he also winds up with a beautifully restored antique clock!

Questions:
What does it mean to be pure? Why is purity important? Why did Isaac think that secluding himself from everyone would keep him pure? What's the best way to stay pure?