Travis and God, PAC 4-Staff Meeting w/out Roger
TRAVIS: Lord?
GOD: Evening, Trav. How was your week?
TRAVIS: Not great…but whenever I think about comin’ to camp …well..you know…you can get through anything.
GOD: The world seems a little dull after a weekend of God, doesn’t it?
TRAVIS: You’re tellin’ me. But it seems like I grow a little bit every year… Every year I get rid of a few more things…drop off some stuff.
GOD: Good…good. That’s mainly what it’s about…losing things.
TRAVIS: But there’s one thing…
GOD: Yeah?
TRAVIS: There’s one thing I just can’t shake. I see other people do it so well, but I just can’t manage it.
GOD: We can’t all dance like Brian.
TRAVIS: (laughs) I mean other than the obvious…
GOD: So where do you want to grow, Trav? This is the night to bring it to me. We’ve got a big crew coming in tomorrow and you might get a little busy.
TRAVIS: (a beat, then) I don't know how to say this.
GOD: You never do…when you’re trying to beat around the bush. How about just saying it?
TRAVIS: Okay. I don't like everybody.
GOD: (a beat) You …you don't….?
TRAVIS: I mean, there are some people I just don't like very well.
GOD: Okay. You said half of it. Now finish.
TRAVIS: Alright….There are some people I don't like at all.
GOD: That’s better.
TRAVIS: It is?
GOD: I mean…that’s the truth.
TRAVIS: I saw it last weekend… there was this kid who just irritated me all weekend. I told myself that when he got to mime I wasn’t gonna put up with him….I’d even planned out what I was gonna tell him… Then he walked in and as soon as he started acting up, Justin goes over to him and puts his arm around him and the kid was perfect the rest of the weekend.
GOD: That’s good.
TRAVIS: For Justin. I blew it. It happens every year, Lord. I see somebody that rubs me the wrong way and …I don't know… I can’t get it off my mind.
GOD: No offense, Travis…but I think you’ve watched too many movies… Loving somebody isn’t just a step up from liking them. They’re two different things.
TRAVIS: I didn’t know that.
GOD: That’s why you’re talking to me. I’m really smart. Tell me the truth…look out into the audience right now… Anybody out there you’ve ever been jealous of?
TRAVIS: Right now? I mean, they’re all listening to me.
GOD: Yeah, but they think we’re putting on a show…they don't realize this is for real. Go ahead.. tell me somebody you’ve watched and you’ve been jealous because you can’t do what they do….
TRAVIS: Well…(name 2 or 3 people and what you’ve seen them do..just let me know the name of the last person you’ll name)
GOD: Good. Good. You hate ‘em?
TRAVIS: Hate ‘em? No way. They’re my friends.
GOD: Do you still like ‘em?
TRAVIS: Of course.
GOD: Then who……who are you really mad at, Travis?
TRAVIS: (long beat, then) Me. I guess I’m mad at me.
GOD: There was this lawyer…He asked my son about the greatest commandment… Know what Jesus said?
TRAVIS: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind.
GOD: And then He added one more…
TRAVIS: Love your neighbor as you love yourself… (a beat) … as I love myself.
GOD: As you love yourself…. Any of this making sense?
TRAVIS: (a beat,then) It’s impossible to really love other people…to even like them… until I like myself.
GOD: It is so very hard…for most, it’s impossible, to truly love another person ..to even like them.. until you’ve learned to love yourself.
TRAVIS: And that’s my problem…I know myself too well. I know my faults.
GOD: So do I. And that’s where Christ comes in… His death… his sacrifice… my grace. Without grace… none of this is possible.
TRAVIS: But how do I….?
GOD: I need strong people this weekend. I need people who can love without faking it. I need people who can even like everyone without pretending…and that is impossible.
TRAVIS: But…
GOD: Without grace…without grace you’re just an actor. A good one…but just an actor. You’ve got to accept my sacrifice in order to love yourself. And you’ve got to love yourself before you can truly love the kids coming through that door tomorrow.
TRAVIS: (a beat, then) I understand.
GOD: Look out there right now. Ask someone to come up there and pray with you…pray for you, Travis. Pray that you will accept my grace to love yourself.
(You ask someone to come up and pray for you…I’d advise not telling them ahead of time..just make sure it’s somebody you think understands this. When they’ve finished, lead the group in Amazing Grace.)
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