Honest Questions, Hard Goodbyes

“Trust in God at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our safe place.” — from Psalm 62

Late in 1961, Betty left the Waorani. She and Rachel Saint had found it very hard to work together, and Valerie was nearly old enough for school. Rachel stayed among the Waorani for most of her life. Betty worked among the Quichua for about two more years. Then in 1963, when Valerie was eight, the two of them went home to America. They settled in Franconia, New Hampshire, among the mountains Betty had loved as a girl.

By now Betty was famous. Everyone wanted to hear the story of Jim and the Waorani. People wanted a happy story where everything turned out perfectly. But Betty had learned in Ecuador that life with God is not always neat and tidy. She would not pretend. In her books she wrote honestly about her questions, and about the things she did not understand. Some readers were upset. But many people with sad stories of their own were helped by her honesty.

In 1969, Betty married again. Her new husband, Addison Leitch, was a teacher of theology, a lively, funny man who loved books. Betty and Valerie moved with him to Hamilton, Massachusetts. Those were happy years.

But Addison became very ill with cancer. Betty looked after him at home, through the long, hard months. He died on 17 September 1973. For the second time, Betty was a widow. This time there were no newspapers and no photographs. She was sad, and she was lonely. But she brought her sadness to God, and God held her up again.

God does not want us to hide our questions or pretend we feel happy when we do not. We can tell him everything that is in our hearts. He is our safe place.

Dear God, thank you that I can tell you everything, even my questions and my sad feelings. Thank you that you are my safe place. Amen.