Leap of Faith

Rain has fallen on the Mulligan farm for seven days. Interstate 40 is washed out, the animals have been trapped in the barn, and the river continues rising toward the levee. Whit monitors the danger upstream while the family adds sandbags around the house and waits for news.

Jessica is especially worried about Samson, a frightened baby mountain goat, but she speaks only to Janelle and the women. Nick impatiently asks why she will not talk directly to him or Mike. His pressure sends Jessica away, and Janelle angrily reminds him that her sister’s silence is rooted in pain, not rudeness.

While Mike and Nick work on the sandbags, Nick asks how the Mulligans can trust a God who allows floods, Lisa’s blindness, and Jessica’s suffering. Mike explains that Jessica and Janelle’s father had been abusive and that Jessica now fears men. Human choices can wound others because God grants genuine free will, even though he has the power to intervene.

Mike does not pretend to know why every disaster or disability occurs. He believes his responsibility is to learn, grow, and discover how he can help others through suffering. He uses practical wisdom by building barriers against the water, yet he also trusts God with the simple confidence of a child who depends upon a loving father. Through forty-two years of good and painful experiences, Mike has never believed God abandoned him.

Lisa finds Jessica holding Samson in the barn. She assures her that Nick’s rough manner hides a better person and that Mike can be trusted. Jessica rejects the offer of friendship and accuses Lisa of coming from a privileged white family that cannot understand her. Lisa admits she is privileged in one unusual way: because she is blind, skin color does not determine whom she sees as a friend.

Whit calls with an urgent warning that the levee may collapse. The Mulligans must either flee and abandon the animals or remain on the farm and risk their own lives. Nick proposes herding every animal to the high eastern pasture. The route will be difficult and they may spend the night outside, but the hill should remain above the flood.

The family agrees to try. Before they move, Nick asks Mike to lead them in prayer. Mike asks God to show whether their plan is wise, protect both people and animals, and hold them safely whatever happens. They release the frightened creatures and begin guiding ostriches, llamas, goats, Gus the elephant, and the rest of the animals uphill through the rain.

As the levee breaks, Samson runs back down the steep slope. Jessica follows despite everyone’s warning. With floodwater only minutes away, Mike and Nick leave the others on high ground and search along the rapidly swelling creek.

They find Jessica and Samson stranded on a small patch of land in the rushing water. Jessica cannot swim and refuses to leave the goat. Mike enters the current while Nick holds his belt and tells Jessica to push off so he can catch them both. She is terrified of placing her life in the hands of a man she barely trusts.

Nick reminds Jessica that she risked herself because she loves Samson. Mike loves her even more and is now risking his own life to save her. As the water rises over her feet, Nick pleads, “You’ve got to trust him and jump in.” Jessica finally leaps with the goat, but the current carries her beyond Mike’s reach.

Mike orders Nick to release him and lets the current sweep him toward Jessica. He catches her, keeps her above water, and reaches a fallen tree where they can hold on. Safe at last, Jessica clings to Mike and begs him not to let go. He promises that he will remain with her.

At sunrise, the rain has stopped and the entire family and all the animals are safe on the hill. Nick tells Mike that the rescue has helped him understand Jesus giving his life for others. He is not yet claiming faith, but he wants to hear more. Jessica begins talking and joking with Nick, and Mike and Traci recognize the beginnings of trust inside their wonderfully unconventional family.