Natural Born Leader

Chris: Hi, this is Chris. Welcome to Adventures in Odyssey.
Unidentified Speaker: Oh, hi there. Welcome to Odyssey. I'm John Avery Whitaker, but most folks around here call me Whit. Why don't you get the whole family together and join us for another exciting Adventure in Odyssey?
Chris: I'm gonna make you a star.
Charles Van Horn: Thank you.
Chris: As much as I hate to admit it, you were right, Jared.
Charles Van Horn: What?
Dwayne Cunningham: We're just talking.
Unidentified Speaker: Oh, I didn't pick that up.
Chris: You could reinvent yourself to be anything you want to be.
Charles Van Horn: I love dinosaurs.
Unidentified Speaker: I'm glad to hear that.
Chris: Hiya, Chuck.
Dwayne Cunningham: The boy is brilliant.
Chris: I don't care if he's Einstein. Who do they think they are?
Dwayne Cunningham: Did our basketball team really lose by 57 points?
Chris: And they call themselves representatives, like they really represent us.
Dwayne Cunningham: Oh, cool. The cafeteria is serving pizza twice next week. Could you lift it up a bit?
Chris: Would you stop that?
Dwayne Cunningham: What?
Chris: Reading the backside of my newspaper. Have you heard anything I've said?
Dwayne Cunningham: Sure. You said your turkey sandwich was cold and you wanted...
Chris: That was like a half an hour ago. I've been talking about the student council. Listen to this article. The student council has selected a theme for the annual Community Consciousness Week. It is, listen to this, appreciating America. Can you believe that? They ignored my theme.
Dwayne Cunningham: You gave them a theme?
Chris: Yeah, I put in their suggestion box. I thought we could have a week dedicated to political sabotage awareness. Appreciating America. Look at this. All proceeds will go to an organization that feeds the homeless and hungry in third world countries. Counting our blessings is something we can all benefit from, says Student Council President Chad Bowman. And of course, we know who's going to benefit the most from all this.
Dwayne Cunningham: Third world countries?
Chris: The Student Council, that's who. They get all the great publicity from the people outside the school. Meanwhile, they ignore everybody inside it. I need to be on the student council.
Dwayne Cunningham: Good luck. The same people get elected every year.
Chris: I know, and I'm too far ahead of my time to be popular. Hmm.
Dwayne Cunningham: Hey, did you write this poem on the back here?
Charles Van Horn: What?
Dwayne Cunningham: Didn't you say you're using a fake name to send stuff to the newspaper now?
Chris: Yeah, they won't print anything I send to them under my real name anymore.
Dwayne Cunningham: This just sounds like a fake name, Charles Van Horne.
Chris: No, I'm Jean-Jacques de Montague. Never heard of Charles Van Horne.
Dwayne Cunningham: It's about dinosaurs.
Chris: People We Know by Charles Van Horne. What's with the title?
Dwayne Cunningham: I don't know.
Chris: The hungry predators kill the weaker ones, and soon the strong ones are the only ones left. Dwayne, do you know what this is?
Dwayne Cunningham: What?
Chris: People we know. This is about the student council.
Dwayne Cunningham: Where did you get that?
Chris: All the stuff about dinosaurs. It's really talking about the student council. The stronger ones abusing their power, crushing the weaker, and dinosaurs are extinct. That means we don't need them anymore. This guy wants to abolish the current student council.
Dwayne Cunningham: Are you sure?
Chris: You're in Miss Dwyer's English class. You know about interpretations. Poems never mean what you first think they mean. They're always about something else.
Dwayne Cunningham: Is this conversation about something else?
Chris: Come on, we spent 6 weeks figuring out poems. This is an easy one. Dinosaur symbolized the student council. I can't believe somebody feels the way I do. I gotta meet this kid. Charles Van Horn. He could be exactly what the school meets.
Charles Van Horn: Principal Johnson.
Unidentified Speaker: Oh, hello. How you doing?
Charles Van Horn: I'm fine. Just here for my son.
Dwayne Cunningham: He
Unidentified Speaker: doesn't like riding the bus?
Charles Van Horn: Oh no, he loves it. I just have to pick him up for a dentist appointment.
Unidentified Speaker: Oh, okay.
Charles Van Horn: I just wanted to tell you how much he likes his new class.
Unidentified Speaker: I'm glad to hear that. you know, it's the first special ed class we've ever had here. Seems to be going very smoothly. Most of the kids have been adjusting to the regular school system quite fast.
Charles Van Horn: Good.
Unidentified Speaker: And of course, your son has done extremely well. He seems to be a notch above the rest of the class socially.
Charles Van Horn: Oh yes, he's always loved being around other people. Being in that special school over at Briarwood just made him feel so abnormal.
Unidentified Speaker: Well, that's the reason for the new program.
Charles Van Horn: Hi, Mr. Johnson. Hi, mom.
Unidentified Speaker: Ah, we were just talking about you. Hey, I saw your poem in the newspaper. It was great.
Charles Van Horn: Thank you.
Unidentified Speaker: Well, I'll let you get to the dentist. Uh, see you later, Charles.
Charles Van Horn: Bye, Mr. Johnson.
Chris: Goodbye.
Unidentified Speaker: Bye, Mrs. Van Horn.
Announcer: Find out what's going on in other parts of Odyssey in the new Elsewhere in Odyssey comic strip.
Charles Van Horn: You're serious?
Announcer: Catch up with some long lost characters with fully illustrated art.
Unidentified Speaker: What a sight.
Announcer: And original stories.
Unidentified Speaker: Oh, right, for the good of the theater.
Announcer: They've been here in town all along, but now you can read about what they've been up to.
Charles Van Horn: You are not gonna believe this.
Announcer: Plus, new surprises wait around every turn.
Unidentified Speaker: It's nice to see you again.
Chris: Glasman.
Announcer: The Elsewhere in Odyssey comic strip, a new weekly release only in the Adventures in Odyssey Club.
Charles Van Horn: Hey, are you going to use this Jiffy Burger coupon?
Chris: Why don't you get your own paper for once?
Charles Van Horn: I'm saving up.
Chris: It's the owl. It's like 20 cents.
Charles Van Horn: Oh, hey, there he is.
Chris: Who?
Charles Van Horn: Charles Van Horne, the one who wrote the poem?
Chris: Where?
Charles Van Horn: Right there, red shirt.
Chris: How do you know it's him?
Charles Van Horn: I saw his picture on the bulletin board outside the principal's office.
Chris: Why was his picture up?
Charles Van Horn: I'm a student.
Chris: He's new?
Charles Van Horn: I guess.
Chris: This is getting better all the time. I'll see ya.
Charles Van Horn: Where are you going?
Chris: Charles?
Charles Van Horn: Hi.
Chris: I'm Jared. I read your poem in the paper today. I thought it was great.
Charles Van Horn: Thanks.
Chris: And I think I know who you're talking about, with the dinosaurs. People we know.
Charles Van Horn: Yeah, I like dinosaurs.
Chris: It's a great symbol, really, of the people we know.
Charles Van Horn: Uh, yeah.
Chris: So, what do you think of them?
Announcer: Dinosaurs?
Charles Van Horn: Yeah. Some of them I like. Well, the meat eaters. They're mean. And real dangerous.
Chris: Exactly.
Charles Van Horn: They feed the little ones.
Chris: They certainly do. And don't you wish they'd go extinct?
Charles Van Horn: Well, they are extinct.
Chris: You're right. You're absolutely right. It's like they've forgotten what put them into power in the first place. That's brilliant. I can't believe that, Charles, you feel exactly the way I do.
Unidentified Speaker: You mean about dinosaurs?
Charles Van Horn: Yes, about the dinosaurs. This school needs your ideas.
Chris: So, you're new here. That gives you an advantage. Nobody knows you. You could reinvent yourself to be anything you want to be.
Charles Van Horn: Uh, okay.
Chris: You'd be the perfect candidate.
Charles Van Horn: I would?
Chris: For student council. Have you ever thought about running?
Charles Van Horn: No.
Chris: Think about it. Got elections coming up soon. What do you say?
Charles Van Horn: Say?
Chris: You could be the thinking man's candidate. You could run on a less government, more power to the people ticket. What do you think? You want to do it?
Charles Van Horn: I guess.
Chris: Fantastic. Charles, you leave it all up to me. I'm going to make you a star. I'm telling you, it was almost like I was talking to myself. Not that I do that sort of thing, but he feels exactly like I do about the student council, and he wants to run.
Dwayne Cunningham: But nobody knows him.
Chris: That's perfect. For all they know, the key could be the US ambassador to Guam, and as long as he talks the way he did to me, people are going to think he's brilliant.
John Avery Whittaker: Hi, boys.
Chris: Hi, Mr. Whitaker.
Dwayne Cunningham: Hello.
John Avery Whittaker: Can I get you anything?
Dwayne Cunningham: No, thanks. We're just talking.
Chris: Mr. Whitaker? Tell me what you think about this poem.
John Avery Whittaker: Ah, People We Know.
Dwayne Cunningham: You think he might be too deep for people in our school? I mean, to be honest, I never would have figured out that poem if you hadn't told me.
Chris: We've all had English, so everybody knows how to interpret poems.
Dwayne Cunningham: Doesn't mean everybody's good at it.
John Avery Whittaker: Hmm.
Chris: So, what do you think?
John Avery Whittaker: Interesting. I don't quite understand the title.
Chris: You would if you went to our school. It's about the student council.
John Avery Whittaker: Oh, I didn't pick that up.
Chris: It's about how they've tried to keep the average person from having any power, just like the meat eaters dominated the plant eaters.
John Avery Whittaker: Oh, really?
Chris: This guy's going to change everything.
John Avery Whittaker: So he's running for student council?
Chris: Yep, and I'm his campaign manager. Dwayne, you want to be my assistant?
Dwayne Cunningham: Well, I have to interpret stuff.
Chris: Just leave that to me. One day, this kid's going to be president, and it all starts today. Right here.
Sarah Prachett: What is this about, Dwayne? Somebody said they wanted a reporter here?
Dwayne Cunningham: Right. Get out your pen. You'll need to write this down.
Sarah Prachett: You're making the announcement?
Dwayne Cunningham: No, no, Jared is.
Sarah Prachett: Jared? Oh, great. I'm going back to my lunch.
Dwayne Cunningham: No, no, no, wait, it's important.
Sarah Prachett: If this announcement has anything to do with space aliens, subliminal messages, or KGB squirrels, I'm gonna have a fit.
Dwayne Cunningham: It doesn't. Just wait. Here he comes.
Sarah Prachett: Who's that with him?
Chris: Ladies and gentlemen, I have an announcement to make. I'd like to introduce you to someone. This is Charles Van Horn.
Dwayne Cunningham: Uh, hello.
Chris: He's new to the school, and I want to announce that he will be running for student council representative in the upcoming elections.
Sarah Prachett: Student council? I've never even seen him before. Jared?
Chris: Yes. Oh, Sarah, good. Somebody from the Odyssey Owl is here. You have a question?
Sarah Prachett: Yeah, why bother? The same people always win for student council.
Chris: Exactly, and that is what Charles is here to change. If you notice in the last issue of The Owl, Charles wrote a poem derailing the runaway train that is the student council. He likens them to dinosaurs, a dying extinct breed still trying to hold on to its powers, but they simply have outlived their usefulness.
Sarah Prachett: I have a question. Charles, how long have you been at the school?
Chris: Charles has been here for just a month.
Sarah Prachett: Have you ever been on student council at any other schools?
Chris: Charles has stayed away from politics because he hates the corruption, but now, seeing the rampant waste caused by the current student council, feels compelled as a citizen to run for office.
Sarah Prachett: Do you have any new ideas if you're elected, Charles?
Chris: He has many ideas. Yes, many, many ideas.
Sarah Prachett: Do any of them include funding for a committee to eliminate KGB squirrels?
Chris: No, nothing like that. Trust me, didn't you read the poem? The boy is brilliant.
Sarah Prachett: I don't care if he's Einstein. I just want to know one thing. If he is elected, are you going to have anything to do with his decisions?
Chris: No.
Sarah Prachett: It's not some kind of twisted puppet regime?
Chris: What's a twisted puppet regime?
Sarah Prachett: I heard that on TV.
Chris: I like that. Spell regime.
Dwayne Cunningham: I don't know how to spell it.
Chris: Charles is not my puppet. He can think for himself.
Sarah Prachett: We'll see about that.
Chris: Charles, hi. I'm glad we caught you alone.
Sarah Prachett: Hiya, Chuck.
Dwayne Cunningham: Um, hello.
Sarah Prachett: Where's Jared?
Chris: He said he'd be here.
Sarah Prachett: Having lunch together?
Dwayne Cunningham: Yeah, maybe I should look for him.
Sarah Prachett: Not so fast. We have some questions for you.
Dwayne Cunningham: Well, Jared will be here.
Sarah Prachett: We don't want to talk to Jared.
Chris: Hey, what's going on here? What are you guys talking about?
Sarah Prachett: We were just about to ask Charles some questions about the issues.
Chris: Well, you see, Charles likes to speak through me, so ask away. I'll handle any questions for him.
Sarah Prachett: No.
Chris: What do you mean, no?
Sarah Prachett: He needs to speak for himself, Jared. The only way he has a chance of getting elected is for him to convince us that he's not being controlled by you.
Chris: Fine. Charles, are you okay with this?
Charles Van Horn: Uh, I don't know.
Sarah Prachett: Just a couple of questions. First, I read your poem about the people we know. Who are the dinosaurs?
Chris: Who are the dinosaurs?
Sarah Prachett: Yes.
Charles Van Horn: Oh, um, they're big, mean animals. Well, some of them are. The weaker ones just walk around and eat trees.
Sarah Prachett: Trees. So what are they?
Charles Van Horn: You don't know what trees are?
Chris: And she calls herself a news reporter. She can't even figure out what the trees are.
Sarah Prachett: I know what the trees are. I just wanted to hear it in your own words so I can write the article.
Chris: Go ahead, Charles. Tell them what the trees are.
Charles Van Horn: They're all over the place. They're green and tall and...
Sarah Prachett: But what do the trees do?
Charles Van Horn: Nothing. They just stand there.
Sarah Prachett: Just stand there. Hmm. Jared, in your own words, why don't you tell us what the trees are?
Chris: You don't know, do you?
Sarah Prachett: Sure I do.
Charles Van Horn: Then what are they?
Chris: Well, the trees are a...
Sarah Prachett: Us! Right, us. The people who stand around not doing anything, like trees. Right?
Chris: Charles, is that a good interpretation?
Charles Van Horn: What's that?
Chris: The way she's interpreting the trees?
Charles Van Horn: Yeah, the trees.
Sarah Prachett: So, that's right. Okay, so the weaker dinosaurs eat the trees, those being us, fattening themselves up for the bigger dinosaurs.
Charles Van Horn: Well, not anymore.
Sarah Prachett: You mean we aren't trees anymore?
Charles Van Horn: Oh no, the tree eaters are gone. They died a long time ago.
Sarah Prachett: Why do you think they died?
Charles Van Horn: Because other dinosaurs eat them up, of course.
Sarah Prachett: Hmm, that's a good point. So you think we should get rid of the big dinosaurs?
Charles Van Horn: Oh no, we could put them in a museum.
Sarah Prachett: Yeah, that's nice. Good quote.
Chris: I told you, didn't I? He's great, right?
Sarah Prachett: Yeah, he is. As much as I hate to admit it, you were right, Jared. You may actually have a chance in this election after all, Charles. We'll see you guys later, okay?
Charles Van Horn: Right. Hey, bye. That was unbelievable, Charles. You were great, and the dinosaur talk was sheer genius.
Sarah Prachett: Thanks, Jared.
Chris: I think we're looking at a new campaign strategy. From now on, you do all the talking.
Dwayne Cunningham: Here, read this.
Chris: Sick of dinosaurs chasing you and ripping off your head? Vote for Charles Van Horn. Hmm, interesting sign. A little disgusting. I mean, I like it, but...
Dwayne Cunningham: I'll work on it.
Chris: How do you like this one? It wasn't asteroids that killed the dinosaurs, it was Charles Van Horn.
Dwayne Cunningham: Cool. How about this one? Charles Van Horn, he's dino-rific.
Sarah Prachett: Sounds like an invitation to a 3-year-old's birthday party.
Chris: Here, I drew a dinosaur.
Charles Van Horn: Not bad. Why is he purple?
Chris: The dinosaurs, they're really big, but it's kind of weird because they had small brains.
Sarah Prachett: Did you hear what Charles said today?
Chris: What?
Sarah Prachett: He said, when the dinosaurs lived, the world was different than it is today. And that is so true. We need new ideas because our school is different now.
Charles Van Horn: Good point.
Sarah Prachett: It's amazing the way he can express how I feel better than even I can.
Chris: You see, dinosaurs laid lots of eggs at once, but most of the babies died. The ones that lived got real strong, real fast. But that's not going to happen anymore, right people? Hi, Jared. Mr. Whitaker, I'd like you to meet Charles Van Horn.
Dwayne Cunningham: Oh, well, hello.
John Avery Whittaker: Nice to finally meet you.
Chris: Nice to meet you too.
John Avery Whittaker: I read your poem. I thought your use of symbolism was interesting.
Chris: Thank you. I think we've got this election sewn up.
John Avery Whittaker: Really?
Chris: The student council won't know what hit them. Hey, could I have a chocolate milkshake, please, and one for my buddy?
John Avery Whittaker: I'm coming right up.
Chris: Oh, I see some potential voters. I'll be right back.
John Avery Whittaker: Oh, you've got quite a campaign manager there, Charles. Well, so tell me, where did you get the idea for the dinosaur poem?
Chris: I love dinosaurs.
John Avery Whittaker: But how did you decide to symbolize the student council with dinosaurs?
Chris: Um, all the dinosaurs are dead now.
John Avery Whittaker: Right, but what does that have to do with the student council?
Chris: The big dinosaurs. You see, they eat the little ones.
John Avery Whittaker: Okay, but what does that mean?
Chris: It means that, well, the dinosaurs, they're all dead now.
John Avery Whittaker: Charles, did you write that poem?
Chris: Yes, all by myself. Well, my mom helped me with some of the words.
John Avery Whittaker: Uh-huh. Do you know what the student council does?
Chris: Um, Jared told me they don't do anything.
John Avery Whittaker: What, do you know what they're supposed to do?
Chris: No.
John Avery Whittaker: I see. Well, here's your milkshake.
Chris: Thanks.
Unidentified Speaker: Come in. Oh, hi, Whit.
John Avery Whittaker: Hi, Mr. Johnson.
Unidentified Speaker: Have a seat.
John Avery Whittaker: Ah, thank you.
Unidentified Speaker: What's up?
John Avery Whittaker: Well, I wanted to ask you about the student council elections. Do you know Charles Van Horn?
Unidentified Speaker: Yes, I do. He's in one of our new special ed classes.
John Avery Whittaker: Special ed?
Unidentified Speaker: Yes, it's a pilot program we've just started. We're trying to get kids with special needs blended into a regular school.
John Avery Whittaker: Oh, so Charles is...
Unidentified Speaker: Mentally challenged, yes.
John Avery Whittaker: And he's running for student council?
Unidentified Speaker: Yes, well, why not? He's one of the better students in his class, and he does have a creative mind. It might make a good fit.
John Avery Whittaker: But does he know anything about student government?
Unidentified Speaker: I'm not sure. It hasn't stopped anyone else from running for office.
John Avery Whittaker: Huh. Did you read this poem he wrote for the newspaper?
Unidentified Speaker: Yes, it's good, isn't it?
John Avery Whittaker: Do you know what it's about?
Unidentified Speaker: Uh, dinosaurs?
John Avery Whittaker: But, but what about the title?
Unidentified Speaker: Oh, People We Know. Yes, I asked his teacher about that. It's a misprint.
John Avery Whittaker: Oh?
Unidentified Speaker: The paper got it confused with another poem. The real title is The Vicious Predators, or something like that.
John Avery Whittaker: So this poem is really about dinosaurs?
Unidentified Speaker: That'd be my guess.
John Avery Whittaker: Hmm. I think I need to have a little talk with Jared. Jared?
Chris: Mr. Whitaker, what are you doing here?
John Avery Whittaker: Can I talk to you for a moment?
Chris: What's the matter?
John Avery Whittaker: What's going on with you and Charles?
Chris: What do you mean?
John Avery Whittaker: I understand if you're trying to help him feel comfortable in a regular school, but...
Chris: Regular school? What are you talking about?
John Avery Whittaker: Jared, you do know what class Charles is in, don't you?
Chris: No, I'm not in any of his classes.
John Avery Whittaker: You don't know?
Chris: Know what?
John Avery Whittaker: Jared, he's in the special ed class.
Chris: What?
John Avery Whittaker: The poem he wrote was mistitled. It really was about dinosaurs. From our conversation at the shop, it appears he doesn't know anything about the student council or what he's going to do if he gets elected to it.
Chris: Uh-oh.
John Avery Whittaker: What?
Chris: He's supposed to give a speech in front of the whole school tomorrow, and he has to answer questions. If he doesn't understand anything...
John Avery Whittaker: We better talk to Charles.
Chris: I'm eating lunch with him later.
John Avery Whittaker: No, no, his parents should be around for this too.
Chris: Want to contact us about the episodes you're hearing? Visit our website at Adventures inodyssey.com or talk to someone at Focus on the Family. Call 1-800-A-FAMILY, with a parent's permission, of course. We always love hearing from you.
John Avery Whittaker: So that's what we think happened, Mrs. Van Horn.
Mrs. Van Horn: Well, I appreciate you telling me, Mr. Whitaker. I can't imagine why Charles didn't let me in on any of this. He usually tells me everything.
Chris: I'm sorry, ma'am.
Mrs. Van Horn: Oh, that's okay, Jared. You didn't know.
Charles Van Horn: Well, what's going on?
Mrs. Van Horn: Mr. Whitaker and Jared were just telling me about your political ambitions.
Charles Van Horn: My what?
Mrs. Van Horn: Why didn't you tell me you were running for student council?
Chris: I guess I forgot.
Mrs. Van Horn: Charles, you tell me everything. Why not this?
Charles Van Horn: Because I knew you wouldn't let me do it.
Chris: But why didn't you tell me you didn't understand what I was talking about?
Charles Van Horn: Same reason.
Chris: Look, Charles, tomorrow you have to make a speech in front of the whole school, and, and...
Charles Van Horn: And you think I'm going to do it bad, right?
Chris: Well,
Charles Van Horn: Well, you don't want a dummy like me up there.
Chris: No.
John Avery Whittaker: It's not that, Charles. We just don't know if you're quite ready for such a big responsibility.
Charles Van Horn: So how come today you thought I was so smart, and now that you know I'm in special class, you don't want me to do my speech?
John Avery Whittaker: It has nothing to do with being smart.
Charles Van Horn: Yes, it does. I know that I'm not smart, but I could do things. You'll see. I'll show you.
John Avery Whittaker: Should I go after him?
Mrs. Van Horn: No. When he says he'll show you, he really means he's gonna show you.
Charles Van Horn: There, you see? I got a certificate.
John Avery Whittaker: Ah, let's see. This is to certify that Charles Van Horne is a unique, one-of-a-kind creation, special in the eyes of God.
Mrs. Van Horn: He got that from a Sunday school teacher.
John Avery Whittaker: That's very nice.
Charles Van Horn: God says I'm special, and that means I could do things, and not just things anybody could do, but stuff that some people can't do, like run for student council.
John Avery Whittaker: Well, you've convinced me, Charles. How about you, Jared?
Chris: Are you up to it, Charles? Okay, then we'll do it. Let's meet early tomorrow morning, and we'll write your speech.
Charles Van Horn: Mm, no thanks.
Chris: What do you mean?
Charles Van Horn: I want to write my own.
Unidentified Speaker: Yes. next up, running for student council representative, Charles Van Horn.
Charles Van Horn: Thank you. I'm nervous. I guess the first thing I should say is that I'm not in a regular class here at school. I'm in Miss Lincoln's special ed class. You see, a lot of people thought I was real smart when I wrote that poem for the newspaper. I guess they thought I was talking about something else, but it's really about dinosaurs. That's it. So I'm not the smartest kid in school. I guess I'm not even the smartest kid running for student council. But my teacher always says, it's not how smart your brain is, it's what you do with the brain you have. And I think I do a lot with my brain, and I think I could do a good job. So even though I don't have the ideas you thought I had, I do have some. My mom and I talked about student council last night, and I understand it pretty well now. We came up with some ideas for the school. Most of them are mine. When we plan events like Community Awareness Week, and we're trying to come up with a theme, I think the student council should think of five events, then have the rest of the students vote from those choices. That way we can all be involved in picking just the right theme. Also, I really like the idea of switching that around.
Mrs. Van Horn: In the book of Exodus, chapters 3 and 4, God called Moses to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. But Moses asked God to send someone else because he didn't consider himself to be a good speaker. In chapter 4, verse 12, God answers, "Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak." No matter how plain or untalented we may think we are, God made us special, one-of-a-kind creations, crafted to do his work. Each of us was made for a purpose. We are unique, talented, and beautiful because we are made in the image of God. Well, that's all for now. If you'd like to write to us, our address is Adventures in Odyssey, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80995. In Canada, write to Box 9800, Vancouver, BC, V6B4G3. And when you write, don't forget to ask for your own copy of today's episode. It's called Natural Born Leader. Adventures in Odyssey is a presentation of Focus on the Family. Natural Born Leader was written by Marshall Younger and directed by Phil Lawler. Our production engineer was Todd Bestede. And I'm Chris, hoping you'll join us again next time for more Adventures in Odyssey.