Treasures

1 boy child (6 – 10), 3 teenagers (2 boys, 1 girl), 2 men (30 – 40), 1 man (60 – 80), 3 – 4 stagehands

Stage set: 2 chairs, one at each side of the stage.  one chair has a Bible on it, the other chair has a basketball (or other sport) sitting next to it and a red helium balloon behind the chair hidden with a triggering mechanism (balloon is also tied to the back of the chair). 

Narrator: I remember it like it was yesterday.  The time had come for the altar call and I felt compelled to go.  So I did.  I still remember the song being sung – Jesus Paid It All…(sings mildly)  All to Him I owe…sin had left a crimson stain he washed it white as snow. (stops singing)… All to Him I owe…hmm….seemed so simple at the time.

boy and parent stands from pew and walks to the front during narration.  Kneels and prays together.  Both stand and hug each other. Parent stands watching boy at base of stage while the boy walks up happily onto the stage to the chair with the Bible.  As light fades on parent, parent goes away.

Narrator: It was so exciting those first years serving God.  He was my Lord.  I mean I didn’t completely understand what that meant, but I knew it meant that everything I have is His and I should use all of it for His glory.

As narration goes, boy is smiling, praying, and reading the Bible while sitting in the chair.

Narrator: …He was my Master and I was His willing servant.  I was so excited to share Jesus with anyone who would listen.  Everywhere I went – at school, the mall, even when I got a job as a teenager.  Yes, everyone knew me – the “Jesus freak”, but I didn’t care, I was serving God.  Sure, I played sports and God blessed me with a car to drive, it wasn’t a hotrod, but that wasn’t what my life was about anyway.  I was storing up my treasures in heaven.

as narration goes, two teenagers come up on the stage and the boy mimes sharing his faith with them.  One of the teenagers eventually walks away with a dismissive response.  The other one, “Tim”, stays as they continue to mime, both with a hand on the back of the chair.

Narrator: You know, serving God is great, but when He used me to add to His Kingdom…there’s no way to explain the Joy I felt the day my friend Tim decided to call Jesus Lord.

as the narration continues, Tim and the boy shake hands and he exits, smiling and content.  The boy sits in the chair happily reading the Bible.

Narrator: And so this is how my life was, nearly every day.  I mean, I am human after all.  Yes, it was a constant struggle to only serve God, but in prayer and His Word He gave me the strength to do so.

as the boy reads his Bible, the helium balloon is released from behind the other chair and it pops up so that it is floating above the chair (it is still tied to the chair.)

the boy glances quickly over towards the other chair and then looks back down at the Bible.  Realizing that the balloon was there, he looks back again for a double-take.

Narrator: But, sometimes I would start to think I was missing out on something.  Something tangible.  Something that I could see and enjoy right now…is that so wrong?

during narration – after hesitating for a while, the boy gets up, sets his Bible down and walks slowly with curiosity over towards the “balloon” chair, pacing between the two, but eventually returning to the Bible chair, staring at the other chair.

The narrator, who is also an older version of the boy walks to the chair that the boy is sitting in.  The boy leaves and the narrator takes his same position and pose.

Narrator: My desire for more tangible, immediate rewards grew as I got older.  Afterall, I was putting in alot of hours at work and doing a good job I might add.  I deserved to have some fun.  You only live once, right?

He stands up decisively, sets down the Bible and walks towards the other chair – hesitating just before he arrives and then walking back to the original chair, standing beside it with his hand on the back – not sitting

Narrator: Of course I let God know that I was still His servant, I was just going to scope out some new ways to serve Him.  Ok then…right.

He taps the chair as if to reassure himself that he believes what he’s saying, then walks toward the other chair, stopping next to it and turning towards the audience

Narrator: As time went on, I eventually started a family and bought a house…and I mean a big, nice house.  Well, see, you have to understand – I wanted my faith to be attractive.  We planned on hosting alot of big party/fellowship things and  I needed a big place to do it…so…it was just a little out of our price range, but I knew God would provide.

As narration above goes, a big board with a picture of a nice house is brought out and propped up behind the chair.

Narrator: and He did – I got a promotion at work which did require that I travel quite a bit, but if that’s what it took to provide for my family then so be it…  Now, it was important that I arrive in style when traveling to see clients, so I couldn’t drive the old clunker I’ve had since I was a teenager, so I got myself a nice comfortable sports car, which I easily made payments on by leveraging some of my home equity.

As narration above goes, a board with a picture of a nice sports car is brought out and propped up near the chair and house

Narrator: Look, what I’m trying to tell you is that I was using up all of my time to support my lifestyle…to be…comfortable.

sits in chair, realizes it isn’t all that comfortable – stands up again, snaps his fingers and a nice comfortable office chair is brought out to replace the wooden chair.  he sits again.

Narrator: ..I found that I was praying for God to bless me, but to me those blessings had to be material possessions – I didn’t want to wait for some reward after I’m dead.  (holds up credit card) You know what this is?  This is the answer to unanswered prayer.  Frankly, I didn’t need God to bless me because I could bless myself, thank you very much.

Narrator: and I did!  I always bought top of the line – only the best for me and my family.  I got us a nice computer so I could play games/fellowship online, several great sets of golf clubs, my wife always wore the best jewelery, oh…and the boat, I got a really nice boat

As narration above goes, a computer monitor is brought out, a set or two of golf clubs,  jewelery and a board with a picture of a canoe (that has a speed boat on the other side)

Narrator: I mean, and I’m not talking about a canoe either… (Narrator is facing away from stage people, realizing they have a canoe, turn the board around revealing the speed boat and walk it out to the chair)… no, this was a very nice speed boat.  Being out there on the lake by myself on a Sunday morning – that became church to me.

Little boy: (running up on stage) Hey dad, will you play catch with me today?

Narrator: Not today son, can’t you see that I’m working here? (motions towards the audience)  Maybe tomorrow…

the boy, hanging his head, walks away slowly

Narrator: (towards the audience) What?… what does he expect?  Does he want to live in a nice house and have nice stuff, or does he want to play a silly game of catch? “maybe tomorrow”…that was always my mantra for anything really important

older version walks out and replaces man in same position and pose

Narrator: …oh how I wish I could see my boy again. I’m sure he turned out to be a fine young man. You see, with all the travel I was doing, I ended up doing some things I shouldn’t have done…I lost my wife and my kids…all I had left was this stuff. I always wanted to serve God again, but, well….maybe tomorrow  (sits there somberly looking at all of his stuff)

stands up still looking at stuff

Narrator: yeah, hmm, maybe tomorrow.

exits

ambulance siren for a few seconds.  Heart monitor sound for a few seconds then flatlines.  Narrator stands with head hung.

“Estate Sale” sign is placed in front of all the things.

“All I Want” (Michael W. Smith) song begins to play

Narrator slowly walks to chair with Bible – picks it up, somberly watching as people come and take away things from the “estate sale”.  Holds Bible close to chest and walks out back.  song fades.