Travis & God II
PAC IV, 2002
TRAVIS: (entering…looks around..trying to avoid God..a long beat)
GOD: Trav?
TRAVIS: Dern. You found me.
GOD: Well duh.
TRAVIS: Hey God, if it’s okay with you, I’d…well, I’d rather not talk right now.
GOD: It’s up to you.
TRAVIS: Thanks..(begins to leave)
GOD: But you’re making a big mistake.
TRAVIS: (stops, a beat, then) I know. I know, I know, I know. Stupid thing to say. I’m sorry. But…God, I’ve failed. I do the same sin over and over and over again and the trouble is….I’ll probably fail again. Heck, I know I’ll fail again.
GOD: Well, so far your like 99% of the human race. No, wait a minute. Mother Teresa died. Make it 100%.
TRAVIS: (laughs, then) It’s just that…there’s this one thing that I just can’t get right. I let you down every time.
GOD: Okay Trav. What is it? Sex?
TRAVIS: Shhh! Somebody might be listening! No, it’s not sex.
GOD: Drugs?
TRAVIS: Nope.
GOD: Rock and roll?
TRAVIS: No.
GOD: Good. I like rock and roll.
TRAVIS: Have you been watching these performances, Lord? I mean, they’re great! We’ve got so many people talented people here. __________’s _____________..that was awesome. And __________’s ______, and ___________’s ___________. They just blew me away.
GOD: You forgot about ________’s ___________.
TRAVIS: Yea. They’re all tremendous and I sit out there and I praise God and sometimes they even ask me to pray for them and I want ‘em to do good. I really do. But….
GOD: But……….?
TRAVIS: Here’s where I let you down, Lord. I always want to do better. I always want to be the best. The best singer, the best guitar player. Somebody gets up there and does an awesome mime and … and it bothers me, Lord. That’s awful. Right here at PAC camp and I’m ….I’m jealous. Even when somebody asks one of my friends to pray for them.. I keep thinking.. “Hey, why not me?” (a long beat, then) I let you down, Lord.
GOD: (a beat, then) Trav, pride was the first sin to enter my world and it’s gonna be the last one to leave. But you know what? I’ve beaten it.
TRAVIS: Beaten it?
GOD: I turn it around to serve me. Trav, I want you to feel good about your gift. I want that.
TRAVIS: You do?
GOD: Yea. Why do you think I made you so cute and cuddly?
TRAVIS: (embarrassed) You’re jokin’ with me now.
GOD: Not entirely. Got any heroes, Trav?
TRAVIS: Uh..sure… (name some people who are performers whom you admire) _____________, ___________________, _________________.
GOD: And you when you were younger you wanted to be just like them, right?
TRAVIS: Yea. Oh yea.
GOD: That was me, Trav…using your pride for my glory. Now let me tell you the real secret . ..
TRAVIS: I’m listenin’.
GOD: Love.
TRAVIS: Huh?
GOD: Love, Trav. It’s just love. You can’t ever envy someone you truly love. You’ve been trying to get rid of your jealousy and it didn’t work. It never will. You’ve got to pray for more love. More love.
TRAVIS: (a long beat, then) That makes sense.
GOD: Thank you.
TRAVIS: No..I mean.. I mean that’s somethin’ I can do. That’s somethin’ I can work on and pray about.
GOD: Exactly.
TRAVIS: (a beat, then) Thanks, Lord. I can do that. I really appreciate this. (thinks) All you need is love.
GOD: (singing..Beatles melody) Ya da, da da da
(Travis exits)
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