Last night I finished The Journey by Wanda Brunstetter and thought it would make the perfect book for our book discussion today. I'm actually going to be basing this discussion off a few things a side character did, rather than the normal main characters. I think that the lessons learned by the less involved character, Phoebe, were great and would make for an excellent post.



Stubborn.
Contrary to common belief, being stubborn is not a good thing. Perhaps determination is good when applied correctly, but stubbornness - no. Think of the rebellious son in Deuteronomy 21, who was stoned because of his stubbornness. Snap.
Stubborn goes hand in hand with "Rebellious" and are often used together in Scripture.

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
1st Samuel 15:23


And may not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not set its heart aright, And whose spirit was not faithful to God.
Psalm 78:8



Phoebe, in The Journey, leaves her home in the Amish community to embark on an adventure with her friend to California. It disappoints her parents and her boyfriend, now her ex because of her leaving, yet she is determined to make her own life. Her reasonings were definitely off balance, and she was quite rebellious, but the trip itself wasn't necessarily wrong. Phoebe just wanted to start her own life, and all is well...that is, until she loses her faith and crosses the line from determined to stubborn. Phoebe's friend moves back to the Amish community, having had enough of the English world and longing to return to the forgiving arms of her parent, leaving Phoebe having to pay the rent for their apartment alone. It isn't long before Phoebe is broke. But instead of returning and asking forgiveness from her parents, whom she disobeyed and dishonored, she allows her pride to take over and stubbornly refuses to go back home - refuses to admit she's wrong.


Before long, Phoebe has no choice and must turn to someone for help. During her journey to try to get back with her ex, Phoebe learns an important lesson and returns to the faith. She forces herself to swallow back her pride and return to her parents, who instantly forgive her and help her get back onto the right path.

Phoebe's stubbornness cost her a lot. Not only by then did she have a sum of debt because she refused to go home, but she also lost a lot of respect and hurt a lot of people. Stubbornness is far from being a virtue, and for many people it is something hard to keep at bay(I, myself, am not very good at not being stubborn, lol). But, with prayer, God can, and does, assist us with our downfalls. And for that, I myself am eternally grateful. :)