The Journey - A Skit for Church

This is a skit co-written by Rodger S. Loar and Erin Paige. It was performed Sunday, January 31, 2010 at Mountain View Christian Church by Nate Allen, Rebecca Loar, and Bedillia Gonzeles. Directed by Erin Paige. Copyright January 2010.

If you like the skit and wish to use it for your church, you have our permission so long as you give written credit in the bulletin or or other service flyer as follows: "The Journey - written by Rodger S. Loar and Erin Paige, Copyright January 2010, www.rodg3r.blogspot.com."

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The Journey

Actor A is walking across the stage very slowly. He is carrying and/or dragging a large very full army bag that is obviously very heavy. It should be stuffed with paper but also have some very heavy items that make noise especially as he sets it down. He is struggling. He tries different positions, sometimes he tries to drag it, sometimes carry it. He slips and falls. Actor A finally gets frustrated and sits down dropping the bag with a loud clunk putting his head in his hands.

(Actor B enters also carrying a bag but it is smaller and lighter.)

Actor B: Why are you just sitting here on your Christian Journey?

Actor A: Because it’s hard. I don’t think I’ll ever be good enough or strong enough for this walk. Being a Christian is not easy. This road is really rough and I’ve got all this baggage. I don’t know if I’m going to make it. (Puts head in hands)

Actor B: Wow. That’s a big bag. Whatcha got in there?

Actor A opens up his bag and begins to take items out to represent his life load.

Actor A: (Pulls out a large chain) This chain is my addiction. (Keeps pulling chain out of bag for a long time, passing it to Actor B)

Actor B: Whoa, that’s a lot of chain! That must be some addiction.

Actor A: I have carried it a very long time. I’ve tried to get help, but I just can’t seem to break it. (he pulls a short length of chain trying to break it)

(He then leaves Actor B holding the chain and then reaches back into his bag and pulls out an absurdly large Victorian type family picture frame with picture of family and barbed wire tacked around the edge) Then there is my family. My wife and I just don’t seem to enjoy each other as much anymore. We’re both so stressed and we end up taking it out on each other. We fight about everything. And the kids, they are struggling with school and getting into trouble. And then there are my inlaws, Oh my inlaws (hand on head and rolls eyes)

Actor B: (Tries to grab the frame) Ouch! Is that barbed wire on there?

Actor A: (conspiratorially) you’d have to know my family

Actor B: (gestures to her own backpack) You should see my family… (pause, while they share a knowing look) What else you got in there?

Actor A: (Pulls out a sledge hammer and a smaller claw hammer handing them to Actor B. Actor B struggles with the weight and finally sets them down) Work is rough. They laid off a lot of people last month and I don’t know how much longer I’ll have a job. And, now I’m working long hours doing all their work too! Plus, most of the guys at work aren’t Christian and they always seem to get me to do things that aren’t very Jesusy.

(He starts rooting around in the bag some more and flippantly pulls out a large wad of cash)

Actor B: Well it sure looks like money is good.

Actor A: Wait. (pulls out 5 big stacks of bills, one after the other, handing each to Actor B) Yeah, but there's more bills than money. We are constantly struggling to pay the bills. We don’t make the best choices with our money, we’re always eating out and seem to buy a bunch of stuff we don’t need. (He reaches back in the bag and pulls out a soccer ball, a drum stick, a pair of large swim flippers, ballet slippers, and a football Actor B keeps trying to hold onto everything as he pulls it out, juggling everything ) Oh yes, there’s the kids. They are so busy with sports and clubs and stuff. They’re each involved in too many activities; we are constantly running them to and from one thing to another. We barely have time to breathe.

Actor B: (somewhat taken aback) My goodness, is there more???

(Actor A reaches in bag and pulls out a very large, very sticky ball of tape [wad up black electrical tape into a big ball, with the sticky side out]) Then, there is my grudge with my dad. I am stuck and I can’t seem to let it go. I just can’t seem to forgive him for everything he did. I am so angry. (Actor A sticks the ball of tape to Actor B – Actor B responds with a grossed out look on her face)

Actor B: You know, you don’t have to walk this road alone. Everyone has their struggles. Heck, I’ve got baggage of my own (Indicates her own backpack) I’ve had people help me through. Maybe I can help. How bout we leave some of this stuff at the cross. Why don’t we start with your kids. They learn how to balance their lives from you. Maybe you could encourage them to each give up one of their activities. They don’t have to do them all and you will help them learn time management. Maybe we can leave some of this here as a start. (she places most of the sports stuff at the cross, but Actor A takes back the ballet shoes and the drum stick)

Actor A: Yeah, then they would have time for homework, or church, or maybe then I could get to see them once in awhile that’s not in the car rushing somewhere.

Actor B: Right. What about work?? Can we leave your worries about work here?

Actor A: I don’t think I’m quite ready to let go of all that yet. (He leaves large hammer on the ground, but takes small hammer and puts it in the pack).)

Actor B: That’s ok. Maybe we can work on that together. I know it’s hard, but we can be praying together. And don’t forget, I can help you carry things too. In fact, give me some of that chain (she takes half and puts it in her bag, the rest is left where it lays on the ground).

Actor A: I would like to be better with my money. Can you help me find ways to do that too?

Actor B: Sure. I have a friend at church who’s really good with money. I’ll introduce you Sunday. He helped me learn how to save and even give money back to God by donating to church and some of my favorite charities. Do you think you can leave your money here and trust God with it?

Actor A: Yeah I’d like to. It is really hard, maybe I could just leave part of it now. (takes about half of the money and leaves it in front of the cross, puts the rest of the money and the bills back in the bag for now).

Actor B: There! Your load is looking lighter already. Let’s keep walking. Maybe we can learn some things together.

(The 2 continue walking. Actor A stumbles but Actor B helps them back up and they keep walking.)

Actor C comes on stage struggling with a large bag of her own. Actor A and Actor B watch for a moment and then Actor B starts to walk over to help. But, Actor A puts a hand out to stop her and says:

Actor A: That’s alright! I’ve got this one! (heads over and puts his hand on Actor C’s shoulder) “You know, you don’t have to walk this road alone.

(lights fade to black. Galatians 6:2 is displayed on the video screen while a voice reads it aloud.)

Galatians 6:2 Carry Each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ

Maid of Money

I was a maid for six hours once. I didn’t wear a short black dress with white lace and I didn’t wield a fluffy feather duster, but, I was a maid. For six hours. Once.

This was back when I was dating my wife-to-be. She worked at an exclusive resort on the back of Camelback Mountain where the rich and famous paid thousands of dollars a night to stay in private bungalows and cottages. She was a turn-down maid that came into the rooms in the evening to clean the room and straighten up, complete with turning down the covers and leaving a chocolate on the pillow. One night, she was terribly sick and couldn’t work and there was some risk to losing her job. Somehow I got wrangled into filling in for her; it was after hours and her boss would never know. Her friend would show me the ropes.

The turn-down part was no big deal, but the bathroom cleanup was awful. Piles of sopping wet towels in the bathtub. Tighty-whities hung over the shower rod…Wet. All of the little soaps, shampoos, tissue box, and toilet paper taken along with all the towels and bathrobes in one room (presumably stored away in a bag to take home). 1 overflowed clogged toilet surrounded by towels soaked with a suspiciously brown liquid. Bras hanging from the faucet. Washcloths in the bidet. Why did everything have to be wet? Somehow that made it worse.

I learned a little lesson that night. Money and fame don’t make a person any better than anyone else.

We are beginning a study in church on the book of James. There is a whole section in James 2:1-9 on the issue of favoritism. This is an important issue for Christians. We had better not treat someone better because they have a lot of money.

Do we treat people better in this society if they are rich or famous? Yes.

Even our kids are caught up in this chase for wealth and fame. Article

Is this healthy for our society? No!

The economic situation that we are in today can be tied directly to our propensity to live way beyond our means, trying to live the lifestyle of a rich person when we do not have the means to do so. Our kids are pressured to be the best at sports or at their schoolwork so that they can have a top career and make lots of money some day. We are the richest nation in the world and the poorest of our people are richer than most of the rest of the world. Why then, this frenetic rush for more wealth?

Money itself is not a bad thing. The love of money is. Solomon, one of the richest men in history learned this and penned Ecclesiastes 5:10. The Apostle Paul also addressed this in one of the most often misquoted verses in the Bible: 1 Timothy 6:9-10.

The truth is that the rich and famous are just like everyone else. Bill Gates may have more money than most third-world countries, but he still scratches his butt in the morning. Michael Jordan has fame and money and still gets eye boogers. Megan Fox breaks wind. Hugh Jackman has toe jam. Mary Kate and Ashley get morning breath. There’s the misbehavior of Lindsey Lohan, Kanye West, or Britney Spears. And, let’s not even talk about politicians.

Who you are as a person is much more important than what you have or the power you wield. Character matters. It is far better to live a life of simplicity and contentment than to strive and stress trying to reach for something that will never bring you happiness.

Teach this to your children. There is value in the work they do that far exceeds what they receive from it. There is significance in what you give generously that surpasses anything that you hoard miserly. And, the fame that you have among your loved ones will last much longer than fame that the media can give you.

I don’t ever want to be a maid again. But I will carry that memory with me.

I did earn a two dollar tip from an old man that night for doing such a good job.

Dear Eric

Dear Eric,

I wanted to take a moment to say thank you for allowing me to attend your funeral. I never had the privilege of meeting you in life, but I want you to know that your life has touched mine. I understand that your close friends called you “Shoe,” but since I’m not that close, I hope it is not too casual for me to call you Eric.

Earlier this week, a friend of mine, Deputy Moody from the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Department honored me with an invitation to accompany him to the funeral of a fallen officer, murdered in the line of duty. I had heard the details on the news and said a hurried prayer for your family, but truly hadn’t given it much more thought, until Deputy Moody emailed me the invitation.

I joined him and about 2500 officers from all around Arizona and the Nation to honor your sacrifice, to cry with your family, and to mourn your passing. It really was quite a shindig, complete with tears, laughter, and nostalgia. From the descriptions given by your family and friends, I think you might have appreciated it, but probably would have chosen to be somewhere else, skiing, barbecuing, or hanging out with friends.

I have been to quite a few funerals, and I have figured out that some eulogies are merely lip service to a person who hardly mattered or worse, wasn’t liked by those around them. Other services, like yours, show that the person was truly loved, truly touched the people around them, truly made a difference in this world. The stories shared by your friends, family, and fellow officers told the story of a man who loved his daughters, loved a practical joke, and was a big presence in the lives of everyone he met. You lived a life of service and capped it off giving your life in the line of duty.

Speaking about your daughters, I cried for them. My heart ached to see them walk in looking stunned and unsure, living their own private nightmare in front of the world. I prayed for them. Your family shared a picture montage of your life, and it seemed that most of the pictures were of you and one or both of your daughters, smiling, playing, and loving. As a dad myself, I respect you for that, and I hurt that much more because a good dad was taken far too early. How can you put a price on the loss of a hundred piggyback rides that will never happen, thousands of hugs from daddy that they’ll never get, and never getting to be walked down the aisle by you.

I hope it helped your family some to see the processional. What an amazing experience that was; hundreds of police cars driving along with lights flashing on the trip to the grave side service. People lined the road, many stopping their cars to get out and watch, hands over their hearts. Many people had brought their children out, holding them up to wave as the police cars passed. Others waved American flags or held signs of respect for you and encouragement for your family. That is respect for a man who most definitely deserved it. It’s a shame that it takes this type of event for people to show respect to officers such as you.

I can say this much, policemen really know how to throw a hell of a funeral. Helicopters flew overhead in a missing man formation. They led a horse with the boots facing backwards in the stirrups. Taps was played, followed by the skirl of bagpipes and a 21 gun salute. An honor guard from dozens of police, sheriff, and fire departments watched over your family and your body on the procession to graveside. The American flag was removed from your coffin and given to your family. I cried again when they gave your final radio call. Thousands of officers wept for you and your family. It was sure something to see all those burly, rough-tough men and women crying and sniffling.

I’m hate that there are evil men in this world like the scum who shot you and shot at other officers that terrible night. It’s too bad that they were only wounded in the return fire. To quote the Sergeant who spoke at your funeral, “It’s too bad that the one who shot you didn’t die, but we all know that cockroaches don’t always die when you squash them.” I’m pretty sure that wasn’t a politically correct thing to say, but I’m glad he said it. We were all thinking it. The one shining thing in all of this is that there are men and women warriors like you, patrolling our streets, protecting the good people from the evil ones. Another appropriate quote in this situation goes something like this, “good men sleep safe in their beds because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.” Thank you for being one of those rough men.

The saddest part about all of this is that the world goes on. The ones who were responsible will go to prison and live on. Even if one or both of them receive the death penalty, it will be decades before justice is served. Your family whose hearts ache right now with raw sorrow, must keep going. Your girls will grow up with a hole in their hearts, but will have to make it, even if they don't see how right now. Fellow officers must keep patrolling, risking their lives daily, just as you did. The community keeps living, the world keeps turning, and you will be forgotten by most. That is the harshest injustice of it all. That’s why I chose to write this letter to you. Someone has to remember.

Thank you, Lieutenant Shuhandler for your service. 10-7, your duty is over. Your fellow officers will take up the duty. Your model of service will guide them. I only hope that I can live up to your example of fatherhood and of service. Thank again and rest in peace.

A Friend Who Never Knew You,

Rodger S. Loar

Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for another. John 15:13

If you are touched by this story and actually want to do something - please consider making a donation to the 100 Club of Phoenix that provides for the families of fallen police officers and firefighters.

www.100club.org

Also, if you see a police officer this week, stop and shake their hand and thank them for their service.

Turning 100

So here we are. One hundred blogs. Who knew I had so much to say? (no rude comments please). Yes, I do have a lot to say, and who can help it when you look on this world and see all the weirdness out there.

I started this blog for two reasons: first, it is cathartic for me to write what I am thinking. I observe the world and see issues that need to be discussed, laughed at, or pondered. Secondly, I wanted to work on my story telling ability. Stories are a powerful way to communicate truth. All the more so when you can use humor to take some of the sting out of truth.

I truly appreciate those of you who read these blogs and especially those who offer comments. You may not agree with me on everything, but I hope you understand that you are truly welcome to comment in a friendly and respectful way.

So, what should I write about for my hundredth blog? I think narcissism would be a most excellent topic. What better word to define a blog than that? Most blogs are, in some form or another, the meandering thoughts of one person on the things that they are most interested in. Yes, this one is too. A blog is kind of like a diary that can be read by anyone. So, as the blogger, you write this pseudo-diary always with the idea that someone might be reading it. Therefore, it probably will never be as transparent as a real diary.

If you are still with me here (and obviously, I hope that you are), you may be doubting the purpose of a good blog. Well, stick with me. Narcissism is at the heart of the ills of our world. Our love of self starts young. Babies are absolutely narcissistic. All they care about is their own needs; they don’t even notice that you have needs. Trust me on this one, I have a four month old at home.

As we grow up in society, most of our parents and teachers make an attempt to teach us not to be so self-focused. Your kindergarten teacher likely taught you to share and other teachers made you write reports about world events. But, ultimately, this is almost a losing battle, because the same people are teaching you a contradictory message as they worry about your self esteem.

Self esteem sounds like a good concept. It sucks to be the kid who doesn’t get any valentines, so the teachers make everyone bring in valentines for everyone else. No one likes to lose, so the teachers have games where everyone wins. And, bad grades may make the child feel sad, so they get rid of those pesky ‘F’s. The funny thing about self esteem is that serial killers and other sociopaths have the highest self esteem of anyone. Maybe self esteem is just another form of narcissism.

I believe that the only hope for our day-to-day world is for us to get our eyes off of ourselves and look outward and upward. Obviously, as a pastor, I believe that we need to look to God for our values. But, we also need to look after each other. To grow as a human being, we absolutely must care about others and touch their lives. We have a deep-seated, internal need to help others, in order to be better people ourselves.

The challenge here for each of us must be to immediately begin loving others, even those people that seem unloveable. This must be done in practical, sacrificial ways: giving up part of your paycheck to donate to charities that help people, spending part of our time volunteering, and actively teaching our kids that life is not just about them.

I have personally taken this challenge for myself and I invite you to do the same. A little narcissism, in the form of this blog, isn’t such a bad thing, unless that’s all I do. Get up and join me in doing something to make a difference in this world.

But, don't forget to read my blog next week.