Travis and God, Part 1
TRAVIS: God, it’s so great to be here. I mean, it’s been a great summer and here I am again at Green Pastures. I just want to thank you. You are so awesome.
LORD: You’re welcome.
TRAVIS: (a beat) Huh? Somebody talkin’ to me?
LORD: Well, I’m trying.
TRAVIS: Scott? Is this one of your electronic gadgets?
LORD: I’m not a palm pilot, Trav.
TRAVIS: You mean…….?
LORD: Yep. In person.
TRAVIS: I am talking to God? I mean like…THE God?
LORD: Thou shalt have no other before me.
TRAVIS: Oh man.. this is really scary.
LORD: Look Trav, you’ve been speaking to me every since you got saved. Wouldn’t it.. I mean, doesn’t follow that I’d want to talk back? Trav, there’ve been times when you’ve come to me in tears and asked me to give you strength or comfort…then just as I was about to answer you, you got up and ran off.
TRAVIS: I…well, I….
LORD: You didn’t know that I want to speak to you?
TRAVIS: Well ..no..I guess not.
LORD: Did you know that the best part of prayer comes AFTER you say “Amen?” That’s when I speak to you.
TRAVIS: I’ve been missin’….?
LORD: The best part. I know everything that’s on your heart before you pray.
TRAVIS: Then why…. I mean, no offense, but why…..?
LORD: Why pray?
TRAVIS: (a beat) Yea. I mean, if you don’t mind tellin’ me.
LORD: I made you because I was lonely. If just wanted a one-way conversation I could have made more parrots and saved myself the grief.
TRAVIS: (a beat, then) Hey.. that’s funny. I mean, you are being funny, aren’t you?
LORD: I’m funny all the time. Have you ever seen Josh Kirbach dance?
TRAVIS: You mean…?
LORD: Yep. That’s my idea of having fun. That’s why I’ve been here all summer.
TRAVIS: Oh I know, Lord. Last weekend at the campfire I could just feel you all around me.
LORD: You should have been there at the pond.
TRAVIS: You baptized somebody? Hey that’s where I got baptized, Lord! Roger was holdin’ on to me and he slipped and nearly drowned but it was really cool.
LORD: Yea.. I remember.. but I was talking about fishing last weekend.
TRAVIS: You go fishing? God fishes?
LORD: Something wrong with that?
TRAVIS: No! No, Lord! That’s.. I mean, that’s cool. Do whatever you want…I mean, you’re God.
LORD: Thanks for reminding me. Trav, I fish with you … I go downstairs and eat with you.. I’m in the bunk right above you in the dorm… and when you dance…oh Trav, if you only knew the fun I have dancing right beside you. Tell the truth, I’m pretty good. Just ask King David… now that guy had moves.
TRAVIS: This is so awesome. I’ve never prayed like this in my life! I guess I’ve just been too busy…
LORD: Dumb.
TRAVIS: Huh?
LORD: Dumb.
TRAVIS: Gosh.. I’ve never heard the Lord call me dumb before.
LORD: Oh, I’ve done it a lot. You just weren’t listening. Trav, you don’t have to bow your head or go to your knees or anything like that. I want to talk to you when you throw that line into the pond. I want hear what you’ve got to say when you’re shooting your art videos or eating hotdogs or dancing in the back row. I want to be with you when you’re having fun, Trav! I want to be there when you’re crying. Don’t make a formal thing out of it. Hey, you want me to teach you some really cool prayers?
TRAVIS: Uh…sure.
LORD: Okay.. try this…. “Help!”
TRAVIS: That’s funny!
LORD: How about this one? “Yes!”
TRAVIS: Cool! You mean…it’s just like …well, like talking?
LORD: And listening. Don’t forget to listen. Can you imagine having a best friend who only wants to talk but never listens to you?
TRAVIS: Lord, this is gonna be one cool weekend.
LORD: You’re tellin’ me.
TRAVIS: No.. from now on, Lord. You’re tellin’ me.
LORD: Cool.
TRAVIS: Cool.
Travis & God Pt. 2.. 4th weekend
TRAVIS: (walks on..frustrated..paces a long time, not knowing how to begin.. then finally in his frustration he shouts out) Help!
LORD: (a beat, then) Cool prayer. Where’d you learn it?
TRAVIS: I’m bummin’ Lord.
LORD: Bummin’?
TRAVIS: Frustrated. Bummed out.
LORD: No law against that. I’ve been there. What’s the problem, buddy?
TRAVIS: I hate roller coasters.
LORD: I know it’s strange for God to be saying this, but what in the world are you talking about?
TRAVIS: Ever since I was little, roller coasters scared me. I mean, you just get goin’ up then Bam!.. you’re headin’ down. I been ridin’ one all day, Lord. First I’m just out of my mind happy then I get depressed. It’s a roller coaster and I’m tired of ridin’ it.
LORD: You got this problem, Trav.
TRAVIS: I know.
LORD: It’s called being human.
TRAVIS: Oh geesh. You mean there’s no way out of it?
LORD: I didn’t say that. It all depends on your focus.
TRAVIS: Talk to me, Lord. I’m not followin’ you.
LORD: (laughs, then) It’s just great to have you listening. You were singing to me last night at the campfire. How did you feel?
TRAVIS: I was on top of the coaster. It was awesome.
LORD: Then when your best buddy got up there to perform today?
TRAVIS: You saw that, huh?
LORD: I’ve got good eyes. You were jealous, Trav. You sit out there pretending to praise God but when somebody performs better than you do, it just eats you up. Like back in Jr. High basketball.
TRAVIS: You’ve got a good memory, God.
LORD: When you don’t ask for forgiveness, I never forget. When you repent, I never remember what happened.
TRAVIS: How do you do that, Lord? Man, I wish I could do that.
LORD: Thousands of years of practice helps.
TRAVIS: So…like you’re sayin’ that to get off this roller coaster…..?
LORD: Focus on me. Get your mind off yourself. The hills and valleys will start to disappear, Trav. Focus of me. Get your mind off yourself. It’s ….just ..that..simple.
TRAVIS: But even when I’m up there performing….
LORD: Even then, you’re thinking about yourself…you’re thinking about you.
TRAVIS: But it’s so scary, Lord. I mean, I’ve got to concentrate on how I’m doin’ or…
LORD: Let go of the bars, Trav.
TRAVIS: Huh?
LORD: You’re riding your roller coaster and your arms are straight-out tensed against every twist and turn. Let go of the bars. Let me hold you.
TRAVIS: You really think I can do it? ‘Cause this ride Lord…. This ride is just beatin’ me to death. I wanna get off.
LORD: Don’t get off, Trav. Just let go. …Let go.
TRAVIS: (a long beat, then) I’m gonna do it.
LORD: Great.
TRAVIS: I’m gonna try. I’m gonna try and do it. I’m gonna focus on you, Lord.
LORD: Good. That leaves me free to focus on you, Trav. Now.. remember that other cool prayer I taught you?
TRAVIS: (thinks a moment, then) “Yes!”
LORD: Amen!
Travis and God, Part 3
TRAVIS: Lord…? (waits) You here?
LORD: Where would I go? I’m everywhere.
TRAVIS: So how was your day?
LORD: Awesome, Trav. I was in small groups today that just blew me away.. Me! And I’m God!
TRAVIS: God can get blown away?
LORD: When people pray, I get blown away. And what I like best is just talking to you, my friend. And Trav…
TRAVIS: Yea?
LORD: Thanks for rededicating your life to me in the small group last night.
TRAVIS: Boy, you never sleep, do you?
LORD: I can’t with all this noise. When you accepted my Son as your savior, 10 million angels started singing “Jesus is the Rock!”… thought they’d never quiet down. I hope they don’t. Do you have any idea what happens in Heaven when one person gives their life to Christ?
TRAVIS: Loud, huh?
LORD: When I see it comin’, I put in my earplugs.
TRAVIS: That’s funny. God with earplugs. I’d like to meet those angels some day.
LORD: You already have, but I’ll hold that ‘til later. So…whatta you wanna talk about today?
TRAVIS: Well Lord, I rededicated my life to you last night and. . .
LORD: Praise Me!
TRAVIS: Hey, that’s funny. “Praise Me!”
LORD: I wasn’t being funny.
TRAVIS: Oh. Sorry.
LORD: (a pause, then) Gotcha!
TRAVIS: (laughs with relief) But look..I’m really worried about this friend of mine. I don’t think he’s given his life to Christ. And I’m not sure about all of my family either. You think maybe you could send some of those noisy angels down and….
LORD: It’s up to you, Trav.
TRAVIS: Me? It’s up to me if my friends get saved?
LORD: I’ve got ten million angels here with their hands tied. They can’t do a thing Trav, until you give them the power. Look Trav, you do a lot of talking about your friends while you’re hear at camp but that doesn’t impress me much. Sometimes you’re just trying to get attention. But when you pray… that’s when the ten million angels start taking off.
TRAVIS: Me? I’m in charge of ten million angels?
LORD: For a start. I’ll send in the rest when you’re ready.
TRAVIS: Holy cow!
LORD: No. Just angels. Who ever heard of wearing a cow pin on your collar?
TRAVIS: (a beat, then laughs) There you go again!
LORD: Listen to me, Trav. Once you begin to pray, all the powers of heaven and earth are at your fingertips. When you don’t pray…like you did last summer once you got away from camp…my angels are powerless. Powerless, Trav. Zip. Nada, baby.
TRAVIS: That is totally awesome, God. I have that much power?
LORD: No. I do.
TRAVIS: You know God, you are really smart.
LORD: That’s how I got the job. (laughs)
TRAVIS: Hey this has been fun… I mean just talkin’ with you. Not on my knees prayin’ for good grades or to get a date or grandpa’s health…just talkin’. We should do this more often.
LORD: You know Travis, you’re pretty smart yourself.
TRAVIS: And we can do this…like..forever?
LORD: ‘Til the ends of the earth… I think that’s how I put it.
TRAVIS: Used to be God…used to be I’d leave camp and I was all sad and in a day or two the feeling was gone.
LORD: Take a hint, Travis. This year….
TRAVIS: Yea?
LORD: Take me with you.
TRAVIS: (singing) “Jesus is the Rock….”
LORD: (singing) “And he rolls your blues away….”
TRAVIS: Yea!
Travis & God III Week IV
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