I think you grow wherever God plants you. I hope I'm growing as a

Host: The clouds hung low over the mountain pass, the air crisp with a hint of the coming storm. The road ahead was a narrow, winding path that seemed to vanish into the mist. Jack sat on a rock, his eyes fixed on the distant peak, while Jeeny leaned against a nearby tree, her fingers tracing the edges of a worn notebook.

The silence between them was thick, but not uncomfortable. It was the kind of silence that only seemed to grow heavier when someone spoke.

Jeeny broke it first, her voice soft but steady.

Jeeny: “You know, life isn’t just about where we end up, Jack. It’s about growing where we’re planted. Like that quote from J. C. Watts… ‘I think you grow wherever God plants you. I hope I'm growing as a person of faith, as a Christian. That should be our number one objective this journey of life. That all starts with a personal intimate relationship with Christ and then being in prayer every single day about all of those things - being tenacious about it.’”

Jack’s lips twitched, a shadow of a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. He tilted his head slightly, studying her.

Jack: “You really believe that, Jeeny? That all the struggles, the hardships, the pain we go through—everything in life—is part of some kind of divine plan? You think we're supposed to just accept whatever comes and grow where we’re planted? Like some kind of spiritual flower?”

Jeeny’s eyes narrowed, but her voice remained gentle, like a calm wave before the storm.

Jeeny: “It’s not about accepting it without question, Jack. It’s about trusting that we’re here for a reason, that our faith is what helps us grow through it. You can’t just throw your hands up and say life is about logic and reason alone. There’s a greater purpose to it all.”

Jack snorted, but his voice was quiet, not mocking—more like a challenge.

Jack: “Purpose, huh? And how do you explain the millions of people who suffer every day, who are stuck in places where they can’t grow, no matter how much faith they have? What’s their purpose? What’s God’s reason for them to be planted in the middle of misery?”

Jeeny took a step closer, her hand resting on the edge of the rock where Jack sat. Her gaze was steady, unwavering.

Jeeny: “I’m not saying it’s easy. But it’s about what we choose to become through it all. Some people find faith in the darkest places. Look at Nelson Mandela—spent years in a cell, but he found a way to grow. He didn’t let the circumstances define him.”

Jack: “But he changed because of his circumstances, not because of some mystical belief. The world’s full of people who change because of what happens to them, not what they pray for. Look at science, look at reason—it’s about adapting, evolving. If you’re stuck in a bad place, you change by understanding it, not by just hoping it’ll get better because you believe in something.”

Jeeny shook her head slowly, her voice soft but passionate.

Jeeny: “It’s not about hope as some empty wish, Jack. It’s about the strength we find in our faith, the purpose we give our pain. It’s about believing that we have the power to change our hearts, even if the world around us doesn’t. You can reason your way through life, but you’ll still end up lost if you don’t have something bigger than yourself to believe in.”

Jack: “And what if faith doesn’t bring answers? What if it just leaves you searching for something that’s never going to show up? What if you’re just left with empty promises and hope that never comes to anything?”

Jeeny’s voice quivered slightly, but she held firm.

Jeeny: “Then you keep praying, Jack. You keep believing in the possibility of growth. You ask for the strength to endure the tough times, and you take each step forward, even when it’s hard to see the path. That’s what faith is—it’s trusting when there’s no certainty, no clear signs. It’s walking forward because you know there’s a purpose beyond what you can see.”

A long silence stretched between them, the wind picking up and sweeping the leaves into the air. Jack’s expression softened, and he leaned back, looking at the sky, the clouds moving, drifting, changing.

Jack: “You make it sound so simple. But I don’t think the world works like that. People suffer, they’re lost, they don’t get to choose how they’re planted, or what grows in them.”

Jeeny’s eyes were gentle, her voice quiet, but certain.

Jeeny: “But maybe it’s not about choosing where you’re planted, Jack. Maybe it’s about choosing what you become while you’re there. Maybe it’s about letting something bigger than yourself change you. You can’t always control what happens to you, but you can control who you are through it.”

Jack was silent for a moment, his eyes drifting over the horizon. The wind was quieter now, and the clouds began to part, letting a sliver of the setting sun break through. There was something in her words that lingered, something he didn’t know how to dismiss.

Jack: “Maybe… Maybe you’re right. Maybe faith isn’t about the answers. Maybe it’s about finding the strength to keep moving, even when you don’t know where you’re going.”

Jeeny smiled, a small but genuine smile, her eyes softening with the weight of the moment. She stepped closer and placed a hand on his shoulder.

Jeeny: “It’s about believing you’re not alone on the journey. That there’s a purpose even in the hardest moments.”

The sky was clearing now, the sunset spreading its golden hues over the mountains. The air was still, and the world seemed to pause for a moment, as if holding its breath.

Host: The moment hung in the air, heavy with the weight of their words, and yet, there was a sense of peace. In the distance, the first star of the evening appeared, its light soft but constant. The journey was far from over, but for the first time, it felt a little less uncertain.