Description

A short drama dealing with the question of suffering and faith, and the difficulty in seeing God’s presence in the midst of hardship.  The play was written for a church that was starting a Stephen Ministry initiative, in order to introduce the congregation to the program, but it can be utilized to represent any church/ministry which provides Christian counseling.

  Cast:  Two adult males, ages 30-50:
Set:  A hospital waiting room: plastic chairs, small table, “Intensive Care” sign.
  Time:  7 minutes
Props:  Bible for Mike, telephone & flowers (on small table)
  Bible Reference: Galatians 6:2

Sample of script:

BEN sits in a chair, look of anxiety.  MIKE, carrying Bible, enters hurriedly, approaches Ben.

Mike:   Ben!

Ben:    Hey, Mike.  Thanks for coming.

Mike:  Are you kidding?  I left as soon as I got your message.  How’s Kyle?

Ben:   Still in a coma.  Katy and her mom are in there with him.  They only allow two at a time.

Mike: I don’t understand.  He was doing so well.

Ben:  I know.  He was responding to the treatment, doctor even said he was in remission.  Then all of a sudden…

Mike, opening Bible:  Here, let’s say a prayer.  I found a passage in Luke that I think will–

Ben:  With all due respect, Mike, I’d rather not.

Mike, surprised:  Excuse me?

Ben:   I’d really rather not pray, if that’s okay.  It doesn’t seem to be doing any good, anyhow.

Mike:  Come on, Ben, you don’t mean that.

Ben:   Don’t I?  (gesturing offstage)  My son is in there dying of some stupid disease I can’t even pronounce, and God doesn’t seem to care a bit!  I keep racking my brain, trying to figure out what he might have done.

Mike:   Who?

Ben:  Kyle.  I mean, he’s only eleven years old.  What evil can an eleven year-old accomplish, anyway?  The worst he’s ever done is skip his homework.  Surely that can’t be enough to make God this angry.

Mike:  Ben, you can’t be serious.  Kyle didn’t do anything evil.

Ben:    Then it must have been me.  I don’t get it.  I’ve tried my best to be a good father, a good husband.  I’m faithful to Katy, I don’t abuse her or Kyle.  Maybe it was back when I was in college.  I smoked a lot of pot back then, slept around a lot.  (a beat)  I guess it’s finally catching up with me.

Mike:  Ben, this isn’t a punishment.  God doesn’t take vengeance on a father by hurting his son.

Ben:  He did it to David.

Mike:   What?

Ben:   He killed David’s baby, remember?  After David slept with Bathsheba.  (gesturing to Mike’s Bible)  It’s right there in the Bible!

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