Thankful in All Circumstances: A Christian Drama in One Act

PLAYER 1: walks up the aisle with his back pack on, looking around, through the sanctuary. He acts like he is in a forest walking the trail.

PLAYER 1:Wow, I sure have been walking a long time. My feet hurt! My head hurts! My stomach hurts! I'm hungry! I'm thirsty! I wanna sit down!

I wonder how many miles I've gone. (looks around). I wonder how many miles we still have to walk before we camp for the night. Oh no, not another fallen tree to climb over! (climbs over a pew, trips, ends up in the aisle.)

Oh no. (looks up at the sky.) Don't tell me it's going to rain! Rain. Mud. Snakes. Bugs. Why did I ever agree to come on this hike??

(walks around sanctuary a bit, climbing over things, wiping forehead, sighing, etc.)

PLAYER 2 (God) calls PLAYER 1 on his cell phone from a hidden location up front (use microphone).

PLAYER 1: (cell phone rings) (stares at pocket, removes phone slowly, answers it) UM, hello? (to congregation) I wonder who is calling me out here in the JUNGLE!!

(Player 2) God: Hi, (Name of Player 1), this is God.

P1: WOW! Um, okay...hi God! What's up!

God: Well, my child, I've been keeping an eye on you today.

P1: (smiles widely, a bit embarrassed): Really!! Cool!

God: You're doing an awful lot of complaining down there.

P1: (laughs nervously): Um, yeah...you noticed that, did you...sorry about that!

God: I have some suggestions for you.

P1: Oh, well, sure! Anything you say, God!

God: Climb up to the top of the next hill. And remember what I say in my Holy Word: 'be joyful always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances.'

(P1 walks up the center aisle, climbs the steps slowly, and stands on the stage looking out at the congregation. He looks amazed. ) WOW! This is a great view from the top of this hill! (sheepishly) I never noticed how pretty this forest was before...thanks, God.

God: Funny how you miss things when you're looking at the ground, thinking about how much your feet hurt, when you're complaining all the time...

P1: hahaha! Um, you're right! Again! All the time!

God: I'm not going to miraculously send you to the end of the hike. You need to keep on the journey. But I want you to notice how beautiful it all is. I made all this stuff, you know.

P1: (looks out over the view from the top again) I have been missing a lot while I've had my head down complaining. You're right! So much depends on whether or not we choose to be grateful for what we have, doesn't it?

God: You're starting to get the picture. Enjoy the journey. Take time to see the beauty all around you. It's not always easy to be content in every situation, but it's worth it.

P1: Thanks, God. Bye for now. (hangs up)

(Player 1 takes another look out at the view from the top, then climbs down the steps and walks slowly out of the sanctuary, smiling and looking around him appreciatively as he exits).