Bethany Bridges' parents were killed when their homemade meth lab blew up. She was only eight years old and thankfully at school when it happened. Her brother Jay also survived the blast. He had just left to go get supplies when the explosion occurred. Because he was fourteen years old, he was sent to the Good Samaritan Boy's Ranch in Brighton Missouri, where he was court ordered to stay until he turned eighteen. Bethany was sent to live with a foster family in Kansas City, who ended up adopting her. Her new parents were both teachers, and it was with them that she flourished and excelled in academics.
Because of their childhood, both she and Jay chose careers that helped addicts. She went into law enforcement, rising to detective in the Narcotics division with a passion for getting drugs off the streets. Jay operated on the rehab side, running a treatment facility and halfway house to help those who were hooked on drugs and wanted help.
Jay had been clean for eleven years but when his facility mysteriously caught on fire and burned to the ground, he had a relapse. Bethany found him in a dark alley two blocks from the burning building. She kneeled over him to check his vital signs. He had a faint pulse. She dialed 911, stayed with him until the ambulance arrived, then drove herself to the hospital feeling devastated.
Bethany knew that Jay was consumed with the same grief and regret that she had about their parents. Both of them knew there wasn't anything they could have done as children, but maybe as adults they could make a difference in someone else's life. That need caused her to want to get drugs off of the streets. However, now she realized that Jay had found a more productive way of helping people than she had. Her way didn't help much at all. It should not have been that difficult. They knew who was supplying, their locations, and where the drugs were coming in from, but they were blocked at every level, restricted by someone further up the chain. Bethany knew that it was impossible to fight against the greedy politicians who were getting their palms greased by the drug cartel. She was tired of the uphill fight and didn't regret her decision at all to walk away.
Tyler Graves was at the hospital visiting his injured friend when he felt led to go down to the chapel to pray. When he stood to leave, he was approached by an attractive young woman.
"You're Tyler Graves, aren't you?"
"I am," Tyler replied, wondering how she knew who he was.
"I saw you several months ago in a church here in Kansas City." She held her hand out to him. "I am Bethany Bridges."
Tyler sat back down, and she sat down next to him. "My brother operates a halfway house and rehab center for addicts who want to get clean. When he heard of your message, he thought you were just what his center needed." She looked down at her hands in her lap. "But, now it's too late," she said sadly. "My brother, who has been clean for eleven years has overdosed and is here in the hospital, at death's door." She looked up at him through her tear-filled eyes.
Tyler had his band members meet him at Jay's hospital room where they prayed for him. Tyler felt that Jay was going to survive and encouraged Bethany to continue to believe. A couple of days later, Jay recovered, and Bethany called Tyler as he requested, and Tyler visited Jay again. This time he felt the Lord leading him in the direction to help Jay rebuild his center, knowing that his work was important to the Kingdom of God.
But what could he do? How could he help? Those were the questions Tyler prayed about. He knew God wanted him to do something, so the journey to find that something began. However, it was not only a journey to help Jay but turned out to be a journey for Bethany and Tyler as well. A journey that would require introspection alongside opening up and vulnerability, a journey that would ultimately reveal the intimacy, the power and the majesty of God's gift.