BUSYNESS
The parable of the sower
FARMER -- (enters, wearing bib overalls, plaid shirt, straw hat, and a seed pouch, crosses to opposite exit, scattering imaginary seed while speaking) A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. (scatters some imaginary seeds over Katie's head, exits)
KATIE -- (enters briskly, wearing pager on belt, oblivious to the farmer, begins to cross, looking at watch)
JANEY -- (follows) Oh, Katie.
KATIE -- (stops, doesn't turn, sighs) Yes, Janey.
JANEY -- (approaching) Have you thought about our conversation?
KATIE -- (turns) Yeah. Say, listen Janey. That Jesus thing is a really good idea. But my schedule is already way too full to add something else to it right now. Maybe next year, when things settle down a little, I'll make a commitment to Jesus. But right now... (looks at watch) Oh, I'm late for cheerleading practice. (backs toward exit)
JANEY -- Maybe after cheerleading practice, we can...
KATIE -- Sorry, I have dance rehearsal after that.
JANEY -- Well, maybe after dance rehearsal...
KATIE -- I promised the girls I'd help them make posters and banners for Friday night's game. Sorry.
JANEY -- Well, maybe....
KATIE -- (backing away, looking at watch) Listen, I really have to go. Check with me next year, huh? (exits)
JANEY -- Next year. (turns exits opposite) Oh, well...
FARMER -- (enters, crosses to opposite exit, scattering imaginary seed while speaking) Some [of the farmer's seeds] fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. (scatters some imaginary seeds over Katie's head, exits)
KATIE -- (enters, weeping, crosses to Janey at C) Oh, Janey, am I ever glad to see you. My life is a mess.
JANEY -- (enters, crosses to Katie at C) Oh, Katie, I'm sorry to hear that. Do you want to talk about it?
KATIE -- I got suspended from the cheer squad because I was so busy that I missed too many practices. Brandon broke up with me because I wasn't spending enough time with him. And now my dance teacher is on my case for missing rehearsals right before the big competition.
JANEY -- Oh, Katie, I'm so sorry.
KATIE -- I really need the Lord. Do you think you could help me? You know... How do I....
JANEY -- All you have to do is pray and admit that your best efforts have fallen short of God's best intentions for you and that you'll turn control of your life over to Him.
KATIE -- (folds hands, prays) Lord, you know how out of control my life is. I need you to guide me in everything I do. Help me, Lord. Be the Lord of my life just as you are for Janey. Amen.
JANEY -- (hugs Katie) Good for you. Welcome to the kingdom of God.
KATIE -- What do I do now?
JANEY -- Well, there's a midweek Bible study at my church tonight...
KATIE -- (reaches for beeper) Oh, wait. My beeper is vibrating.
JANEY -- What is it?
KATIE -- (smiles) It's Brandon. I think he wants to get back together with me. Say! This Jesus thing really works!
JANEY -- Be careful what you attribute to Jesus. Brandon isn't a Christian. I'm not sure the Lord wants you to be unequally yoked with an unbeliev.....
KATIE -- (putting beeper back on belt) Can you believe it? My beeper hasn't gone off for three days and here it's vibrating again. (reads beeper again, smiles runs to exit) It's my cheer squad advisor. I'll bet she wants me to cheer for Friday night's game. See ya!
JANEY -- What about Bible study?.... (exits opposite) Oh, well.
FARMER -- (enters, crosses to opposite exit, scattering imaginary seed while speaking) Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. (scatters some imaginary seeds over Katie's head, exits)
JANEY -- (enters carrying sleeping bag, crosses to Katie at C) Oh, Katie, I finally was able to track down a sleeping bag for you.
KATIE -- (enters, crosses to Janey at C) Oh, Janey, that was sweet. But I'm sorry to say I won't be able to go on the mission trip after all.
JANEY -- Oh, Katie! Why not?
KATIE -- My dance team won the district championships and we have to practice hot and heavy to get ready for the regionals.
JANEY -- Oh, Katie, I feel sorry for you.
KATIE -- Oh, don't worry about the deposit. I knew when I signed up to go on the mission trip that the deposit was nonrefundable.
JANEY -- I'm not talking about the deposit. I'm talking about the blessings you'll miss from doing the Lord's work. (remains on stage after Katie exits, freezes)
KATIE -- Oh, well. (looks at watch) Listen, got to go. (sings) Rehearsals, you know! (runs to exit)
FARMER -- (enters, crosses to opposite exit, scattering imaginary seed while speaking) Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop--a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. (scatters some imaginary seeds over Janey's head, exits)
JANEY -- (pulls cell phone from purse or pocket, dials number, puts it to ear, strolls to exit talking on phone) Hello, Ashley? This is Janey. Hi. Do I ever have an opportunity for you! Yes. We just had a cancellation from the mission trip and now you not only get to go, but you get to go for free!
-Bob Snook-
Matthew 13
1 On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea.
2 And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
3 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow.
4 And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them.
5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth.
6 But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.
7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them.
8 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”
11 He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive;
15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.’
16 But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear;
17 for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
18 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower:
19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.
20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;
21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
Father
Take my life and let it be consecrated completely to you. Use me in anyway you want to plant seeds in peoples lives that they may surrender their lives to you in complete submission. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment