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Brad Wise
In 2012, I spent a week in Monterrey, Mexico with Beth and Todd Guckenberger on the campus of the orphan care ministry they run. We (Rebel Pilgrim) had just optioned the rights to their story to adapt it into a feature film. After reading her books and hearing her speak through the years at the Vineyard, I was excited to get to know her and Todd on a deeper level.
Every day in Monterrey we hung out, ate delicious food and I asked them approximately 15 zillion questions about their lives. At night I went back to my room and summarized my thoughts, certain the stories I heard that day would be the movie. After four nights of this I was certain I would have to write at least a trilogy. There were just too many stories for just one movie. Too many characters with their own heroic journeys to get to know in a 95-minute indie movie.
Over the next month back in Cincinnati I went through my notes, listened to the conversations I recorded, and landed on a general outline for the story. I had to leave out a bunch of my favorite stories, but felt good about the overall direction. I wrote the first draft and it was 120+ pages. Way too long. But a decent first attempt.
I met with Beth when she was stateside and we talked about the script. She had some good notes and then started telling me a few more stories she forgot to tell me. Stories I couldn’t ignore. Stories that had to be in the movie.
I blew up the first draft and started over.
My new task was to incorporate the new stories and simplify at the same time. Isaac only lets me have 95 pages (a script is one minute per page). It was daunting and exhilarating.
As I got closer and closer to figuring out how to end the movie I went into that magic place that athletes refer to as The Zone. I finished the second draft at 103 pages and typed my three favorite words, FADE TO BLACK. I felt like I just wrote the best screenplay of my young career. My team of trusted readers gave me great notes and agreed that while there were a few things that needed fixing, it was getting close. It even made some of them cry. That’s always good.
Then I met with Beth again. And the same thing happened. She told me a few stories that she hadn’t told me yet. New stories about her dad and how she dealt with his death. I wanted to pick up a pillow and smash her face out of pure frustration/joy. I left and called a friend and told him I was starting over. Again.
I have no idea how many more times this will happen. I hope not many, but I also just want to keep learning more. Beth and Todd’s story has inspired me on so many levels. Their reckless faith to leave Cincinnati as a young couple and move to Mexico without knowing the language or having any formal “missionary” training motivates me to take action in the face of insecurity. Their relentless hope through the ups and downs of their adoption stories reminds me that the story is never over. The big, messy, colorful family they’ve been formed/gathered into opens my (and Leah’s) eyes to the possibility and beauty of adoption.
I promise you that no matter how many times you’ve heard Beth speak you haven’t heard all her stories. I want (dare I say need) you to join me on September 13 at Memorial Hall to hear her cram as much of her life story as she can into 120 minutes. Your lungs, heart and mind will be filled with a new air of possibility. You will float home. Your faith will feel different. Tangible. Real.
I’ve spent over two years inside and out of this Reckless Faith story and I can’t wait to hear more. See you at the show.
Photo courtesy of Brad Wise
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Brad Wise
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