Leaping Off the Page: Any Time of the Year Edition

by L. Ruth Carter

  DON’T SWEAT IT!

  A Sketch

  Cast

  Stanley: (Or Stella) A Christian with a heart for missions.

  Graham: (Or Gracie) He (or she) has the answers. He (or she) thinks.

  SCENE: This can take place anywhere. A bus stop, a sidewalk café, an office lobby, an elevator. I’m going to put it at a bus stop—a good place to just meet up with people.

  Stanley enters, briefcase in hand. He’s waiting for his bus to work. He stretches, yawns a bit, then relaxes. Graham comes jogging by, as he does every morning, headphones on. He waves at Stanley, continues on by, then double takes as Stanley rotates his shoulders and yawns again.

  Graham (Takes off the headphones and crosses to Stan) Boy! You look beat!

  Stanley: (Grins. It’s rueful, joyful and weary all at once) Yeah.

  Graham: What’s up?

  Stanley: Missions Conference at the church this week.

  Graham: Missions?

  Stanley: (Nods) Meetings every night.

  Graham: You really into all that pith helmets and jungles stuff?

  Stanley: Why, yes. Although very little of it is pith helmets and jungles anymore Our world desperately needs Jesus and His hope.

  Graham: It’s old-fashioned.

  Stanley: Well, the command to go is 2,000 years old.

  Graham: It’s irrelevant.

  Stanley: Huh?

  Graham: And it’s totally unnecessary.

  Stanley: Unnecessary?

  Graham: Totally.

  Stanley: How can you say that?

  Graham: Every one has their own path to God. We just need to feed some of them, give ‘em some clothes. They’ll all find the way to God in their own way.

  Stanley: And if they can’t?

  Graham: Don’t worry. They’ll find their way. Every religion has truth, after all. Don’t sweat it. You don’t have to spend all that money sending missionaries to start churches.

  Stanley: That’s—interesting.

  Graham: It’s sensible.

  Stanley: By the way, how’s the soup kitchen at your church doing?

  Graham: Closed down. After we moved out to the suburbs, the street people couldn’t find the way or something. (Looks at his watch) Well, I’ve gotta run. (To exit and turns in) Don’t sweat it. It’ll be all right.

  Curtain

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