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A Game of Compassion

Album: 16: Flights of Imagination

Episode: 228

Lesson/Theme: Helping others; sacrifice.

Bible Verse: James 2:14-26

Characters: Whit

Writer:

Sound Designer: Dave Arnold

Original Air Date: April 17, 1993

Last Air Date: October 31, 2008

Description:
Eric Myers is one of the star players on Odyssey's soccer team. Thanks to his skills, the team has a chance to win the championship for the first time in 17 years. The big game is on Friday, and Eric is pumped for it. After practice, he meets the locker-room cleaning lady, Mrs. Phillips. She seems distressed. Mrs. Phillips reluctantly tells Eric she is widowed and nearly destitute. She needs to move from her current place to a new apartment, but she doesn't have anyone to help her. Eric volunteers. He tells her that he'll be there first thing Saturday morning. But the next day, the soccer coach announces that due to a problem with the field, the big championship game has been moved to Saturday. Eric panics! He knows the team needs him, but he's made a promise to Mrs. Phillips. Eric decides to keep his promise. He tells the team he can't be there. But Eric doesn't tell the team why, so they think Eric is a traitor. Later, at Whit's End, Eric's little sister, Brooke, tells Whit about Eric's dilemma. Whit tells Eric that he's doing the right thing. Eric knows this, but he says it still won't help him win the game. Saturday arrives, and Eric goes to help Mrs. Phillips. She has also heard about Eric's dilemma, though. Mrs. Phillips tells Eric to go to the game. But Eric says he made a promise, and he intends to keep it. Just then, there's a knock at the door. It's Whit, along with the entire soccer team. They all pitch in and help, and Mrs. Phillips is moved before the game.

Questions:
Should Eric have kept his promise to Mrs. Phillips? Why or why not? Why didn't Eric simply tell his coach or his mom or even Whit about his dilemma? Would you have kept quiet? Have you ever faced a problem like Eric's? How did you handle it?