Travis & God, I, 3.
2003
Travis: (running in, but hollering back off) Oh yea? Oh yea? Well just see if I care! Hey, I wouldn’t hang around you guys if you were the last people on…
God: Hey! Hey! Easy Trav! What’s the deal?
Travis: They were my friends, Lord! At least until today! I can’t believe that! We’ve been best buddies for years then suddenly today they won’t speak to me! I’m really sorry, God, but I’m hacked. I am really mad at those guys.
God: I don’t blame you.
Travis: You don’t? I mean, I thought you’d tell me to turn the other cheek and stuff like that.
God: Yea. Yea, I would. But I don’t blame you for being mad. Face it Trav, sometimes people are just jerks.
Travis: I can’t believe I heard God call somebody a jerk.
God: Read the story of Pharaoh.
Travis: So what do you do about jerks?
God: Well, I drowned mine. .. at least his army.
Travis: But those guys ain’t Pharaoh, Lord. They’re…well, they were my friends.
God: Trav, that’s life. It’s not fun sometimes, but that’s life. You want to know another name for jerk?
Travis: Yea. And I hope it’s a good one. I’ll shout it at ‘em right now.
God: Travis.
Travis: What?
God: That’s the word…Travis. You boy. Look at the way you’re acting right now. Do you think I’ll refuse to let the sun come up tomorrow morning just because I’m having a bad day? You think I’ll let the earth stop spinning this afternoon because somebody made me mad? Travis, your job is to love everyone, whether you get that love returned or not.
Travis: (a long beat, then) That’s hard, Lord.
God: (long beat) Actually, it’s easier. Hating people wears you out. Worse than that… it makes you… well, it makes you a jerk.
Travis: So…I mean, what should I do.
God: Go over to those guys and apologize.
Travis: Me? They started it!
God: You remember the scripture that says, “Forgive others only if they forgive you first?”
Travis: (a beat, then) No.
God: I don’t either. I just made that up. Now go ahead… give ‘em a shock.
Travis: (starts to go then) Will you go with me?
God: You kiddin’? I’ll race you there.
(Travis smiles then exits.)
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