The Inspiration Station

Connie has spent all night inside Whit's newest invention, the Inspiration Station - and she never wants to come out. Inside the machine she feels patient, wise, and close to God, but the ordinary Connie she has to be everywhere else leaves her so ashamed that she walks out on her own radio show. Meanwhile Whit sends Matthew, who gave up inventing after wrecking the church computers, into the machine to meet Mortimer, a peculiar librarian with a book for every life ever lived. Mortimer shows him that Edison and Ford made plenty of mistakes too, then hands him a book with his own name on it... and blank pages waiting to be filled. Matthew comes out ready to tinker again - with permission this time - but Connie is harder to reach. Whit finds her in the park and reminds her that no machine can shortcut the slow, hard work God uses to grow a person. Then he plays recordings of kids telling how the real, imperfect Connie has already changed their lives, and she discovers she doesn't need a machine to be inspired after all.

Found on Take It from the Top Album 51 · 12 episodes

The run See every episode

6 of 9 0651 Passages: Darien's Rise Word of a devastating attack on the convent forces Darien to hold onto hope for Anna while an occupied city tests his faith and cunning.

7 of 9 0652 Passages: Darien's Rise With King Lawrence closing in and war brewing on the border, the fugitive Darien must decide how far loyalty to a king who wants him dead can go.

8 of 9 0653 Passages: Darien's Rise As war closes in on Maris, exiled hero Darien must weigh a tempting offer of safety against his duty to a king who wants him dead - while young Kyle, desperate to matter again, slips away on a dangerous errand of his own.

9 of 9 0654 Passages: Darien's Rise Desperate to find his way home from Maris, Kyle falls into the hands of a doomed king who believes the boy is the lucky charm that will save him from the coming battle.

N/A Welcome to Whit's End A guided tour of the town of Odyssey and its beloved shop Whit's End gets an extra dose of adventure when Wooton Bassett locks himself out of his own house.

1 of 2 0655 The Inspiration Station When Whit's new invention shows people their best selves, Connie's newfound serenity and Matthew's well-meaning tinkering both spiral into trouble at Whit's End.

2 of 2 0656 The Inspiration Station When a machine at Whit's End offers instant inspiration, Whit must help a discouraged young inventor and an over-eager Connie discover what real growth actually requires.

0657 Clutter A family garage sale grinds to a halt when every Parker discovers that nothing they own is quite easy to let go.

0658 Game for a Mystery When a boy's beloved handheld game vanishes from its hiding spot, an aspiring young detective takes on her very first case.

0659 Target of the Week When Matthew becomes the school bully's designated victim for a week, he decides to stop being afraid and get even - with consequences he never saw coming.

0660 For the Birds When Camilla rescues an orphaned baby blue jay to prove she's ready for a pet of her own, she discovers responsibility demands far more than she imagined - while Eugene wages a baffling battle with the park's suddenly hostile birds.

0661 When You're Right, You're Right Certain she knows best, Emily takes charge of her brother's romantic gesture - whether he wants her help or not.

0662 Grandma's Visit When Grandma Lucia arrives in Odyssey with news that Aunt Rosalita's wedding will happen at the Parker home that very week, the family's frantic hospitality is stretched to its breaking point.

Featured characters

Minor characters & crew 5 more roles

5 supporting roles

Thomas Edison Actor Unknown Mortimer Jess Harnell Thomas Edison's Boss Actor Unknown Henry Ford Actor Unknown William Ford Actor Unknown

Made by

Chris Anthony Host Bob Hoose Writer · Producer Paul McCusker Writer · Director GAP Digital Sound Designer Dave Arnold Executive Producer

The story

Read the full synopsis 2 min

Whit and Eugene arrive early and discover that someone has used the Inspiration Station all night. Connie is still inside and believes only a short time has passed. When Whit confronts her, she insists the machine is helping her become patient, wise, and close to God. Whit sees that she is using inspiration as an escape from the difficult work of living out what she has learned.

Eva asks Whit to help Matthew, who has abandoned all his technological interests since damaging the computers. Whit invites Matthew to test the Inspiration Station. Inside, Matthew meets the eccentric librarian Mortimer, who tends a seemingly endless collection of everything people have thought, said, and accomplished.

Mortimer shows Matthew that Thomas Edison and Henry Ford both made mistakes while experimenting. Even Whit's mishap with the town clock has helped inspire the idea for inventions that bring history to life. Their errors taught them caution, but they did not bury their curiosity. Mortimer then gives Matthew a book bearing his own name. Its pages remain blank because Matthew must fill them with the mistakes he learns from and the worthwhile things he goes on to do.

Matthew realizes that his failure does not require him to quit. He can continue tinkering while respecting other people's property and asking permission first. When he leaves the machine, Eugene immediately asks for his help with the equipment, giving Matthew a chance to put that lesson into practice.

Connie tries to describe her struggle on her radio program. She admits that she likes the person she is inside the Inspiration Station better than the person she is in real life. The machine has shown her what she could become, but the contrast leaves her ashamed and disappointed. She abruptly leaves the broadcast, and Eugene takes calls from listeners in her absence.

Whit finds Connie in the park and reminds her that no machine can provide a shortcut to spiritual growth. Inspiration may offer a glimpse of what God can do, but God shapes people through the hard work of ordinary life. Connie has focused so much on how far she still has to go that she cannot see how far she has already come.

Back at Whit's End, Whit plays the callers' messages for her. Children describe the many ways Connie has encouraged them, taught them about Jesus, helped them through trouble, and kept trying after her mistakes. Their words show her that the imperfect Connie they know is already making a difference. She no longer needs to hide inside a machine to feel transformed. Hearing how God has worked through her leaves Connie genuinely inspired.

Matthew also returns to his inventive ways with a healthier attitude. On the ride home, he proposes an improvement to his mother's cassette player - and remembers to ask permission.