John and God, PAC III, 2
JOHN: Hey God?
GOD: Hi John.
JOHN: Thanks for a great day.
GOD: My pleasure.
JOHN: Notice I started with thanks?
GOD: You’re learning.
JOHN: So….I’ve been doing that. I’ve been thanking you …. You know… praising you to start each prayer.
GOD: Oh, I’ve noticed. I’ve heard every word. Your key fits perfectly. In fact, you’ve been praying a lot about your friends this weekend.
JOHN: Yeah. (a beat) I don’t know what to do, God. I mean, they’re my friends but sometimes… Sometimes it’s like they sort of ignore me. We can spend some great time together just hanging out then it seems like I don’t hear from them for a long time. (a beat) It sort of hurts.
GOD: Yeah. But you’re putting it pretty nicely right now…maybe because people are listening. You hurt pretty badly when people ignore you, don’t you?
JOHN: Yeah. (a beat) Nobody likes to be lonely.
GOD: Nobody.
JOHN: So….I mean…what do I do?
GOD: Stop being such a wimp.
JOHN: (a beat, then) God just called me a wimp.
GOD: No offense.
JOHN: Why…uh….why am I a wimp?
GOD: Because you’re pouting. Poor me. Poor John.
JOHN: (a beat as you look around at the audience) This is really embarrassing.
GOD: Good. I’ve got your attention. John, if you’re lonely, do something about it.
JOHN: Like….like what?
GOD: Attack.
JOHN: Attack?
GOD: With love. With caring. Don’t just sit there and wish people would come to you. You go….Go to them. Don’t sit there and pout. So which one of your friends has been ignoring you?
JOHN: (a beat) I’d…I’d rather not say in public.
GOD: No problem. John, I know who you’re thinking of and I know they’re just as lonely as you are. Stop being such a whiner. You go to them. You show them the kind of love and attention you want them to show you and just see what happens.
JOHN: How do I…I mean, no offense, Lord…but how do I know they won’t ignore me? How do I know they won’t make fun of me? How do I know this’ll work?
GOD: Because I said so.
JOHN: (a beat, then) Oh.
GOD: It worked for me, John.
JOHN: (a beat, then) Huh?
GOD: When people ignored me…when people forgot me….When they seemed to have lost their love for me… That’s when I acted. I sent them the most precious thing I had.
JOHN: (a beat, then) Your son. (a silence, then) I think I get it.
GOD: (a beat) I knew you would.
JOHN: Sorry.
GOD: No…no, don’t be sorry. Be thankful. Be really thankful. Still got that friend’s name in mind? The one who seemed to ignore you?
JOHN: Yep.
GOD: Show them that kind of love. They’re just as lonely as you are, John.
JOHN: And stop being such a wimp.
GOD: I was kidding. You’re just John…and that’s good enough for me.
JOHN: It’s funny. When other people correct me I feel pretty bad…sort of embarrassed. But when You straighten me out you always make me feel better.
GOD: Face it. I’m pretty cool.
JOHN: (laughs) Yeah…you’re pretty cool, Lord.
GOD: Remember the first Bible verse you ever learned? “This is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you… except when people aren’t nice to you.”
JOHN: Uh..It doesn’t say that.
GOD: You’re pretty sharp, John. Now get out there and do it. (John smiles and exits)