Monologue For A Traveler
Drama
Planting Seeds
A Collection Of Sermon Starter Sketches
This old traveler of life's path tells of the day he discovered that those footsteps behind him weren't to be feared. In fact, they were the footsteps of Goodness and Mercy sent by the Lord himself to follow him on his journey. The traveler carries an invitation. He is going to the house of the Lord where he has been invited to live forever. "Monologue For A Traveler" is based on God's promises to us in Psalm 23. It can be used with messages on fear, anxiety about the future, and the promises of God's care for us.
Cast
A seventyish-year-old man or woman who conveys a deep trust in God and never tires of telling about the invitation to live with him forever. (Can be played by a person of any age if makeup is used to make the person appear seventy years old.)
Setting And Costumes
A backdrop showing a path through a forest gives the feeling of journeying with the traveler, however, the monologue can be performed on an empty stage.
The man or woman is dressed in khaki or brownish colored walking clothes and wears hiking boots. Makeup may be needed to make the actor appear older.
Props
Walking stick
Piece of paper
(The traveler enters carrying a walking stick, and addresses the audience.)
I've been on this journey for seventy years, and I have to tell you, I used to wake up every morning scared to death. You see, I never knew what was ahead. Still don't know. How could I? Every day I'm going somewhere I've never been before. (quiet for a moment and then pulls something from a pocket) Did I tell you where I'm headed? I have an invitation. (opens it and reads aloud) To live in the house of the Lord forever. (closes the invitation) Forever! Can you believe that? This path ends right at the door of his house. (puts the invitation away) I never get tired of reading that invitation. (quiet again)
Oh, but like I was saying, this path used to scare me to death. One day ... it was a really dark day, almost nighttime ... I was zigzagging across the trail from tree to tree, hiding behind each one before dashing to the next, (acts this out while describing it) when I heard footsteps ... behind me ... following me. I'd heard them before on dark nights. I took a few steps (takes a few steps) and the feet took a few steps. I stopped (stops) and they stopped. Finally, I stopped completely and flattened myself against a tree hoping to lose them, (acts this out) and you'll never believe what happened. Two strangers appeared and introduced themselves. Called themselves Goodness and Mercy. Said they'd been following me since I began the journey. Sent by the Lord himself to escort me to his house.
I asked why I'd never seen them before ... (amazed) and they said I had seen them before, many times, but each time they looked different. Goodness said he was the one who took me in and fed me the night I wandered off the path. Mercy said she was the one who pardoned me when I couldn't pay a debt. (laughs) I had been running scared from the footsteps of Goodness and Mercy. There was not a moment they hadn't been with me, not a day in the future they wouldn't be following me.
Now each new day is not so frightening. In fact, I wake up in the morning looking forward to the journey (smiles) and looking forward to my destination. (pulls out the invitation) Did I tell you I have an invitation -- (exits while looking at invitation, then pauses and reads invitation again with awe) to live in the house of the Lord ... forever.
Cast
A seventyish-year-old man or woman who conveys a deep trust in God and never tires of telling about the invitation to live with him forever. (Can be played by a person of any age if makeup is used to make the person appear seventy years old.)
Setting And Costumes
A backdrop showing a path through a forest gives the feeling of journeying with the traveler, however, the monologue can be performed on an empty stage.
The man or woman is dressed in khaki or brownish colored walking clothes and wears hiking boots. Makeup may be needed to make the actor appear older.
Props
Walking stick
Piece of paper
(The traveler enters carrying a walking stick, and addresses the audience.)
I've been on this journey for seventy years, and I have to tell you, I used to wake up every morning scared to death. You see, I never knew what was ahead. Still don't know. How could I? Every day I'm going somewhere I've never been before. (quiet for a moment and then pulls something from a pocket) Did I tell you where I'm headed? I have an invitation. (opens it and reads aloud) To live in the house of the Lord forever. (closes the invitation) Forever! Can you believe that? This path ends right at the door of his house. (puts the invitation away) I never get tired of reading that invitation. (quiet again)
Oh, but like I was saying, this path used to scare me to death. One day ... it was a really dark day, almost nighttime ... I was zigzagging across the trail from tree to tree, hiding behind each one before dashing to the next, (acts this out while describing it) when I heard footsteps ... behind me ... following me. I'd heard them before on dark nights. I took a few steps (takes a few steps) and the feet took a few steps. I stopped (stops) and they stopped. Finally, I stopped completely and flattened myself against a tree hoping to lose them, (acts this out) and you'll never believe what happened. Two strangers appeared and introduced themselves. Called themselves Goodness and Mercy. Said they'd been following me since I began the journey. Sent by the Lord himself to escort me to his house.
I asked why I'd never seen them before ... (amazed) and they said I had seen them before, many times, but each time they looked different. Goodness said he was the one who took me in and fed me the night I wandered off the path. Mercy said she was the one who pardoned me when I couldn't pay a debt. (laughs) I had been running scared from the footsteps of Goodness and Mercy. There was not a moment they hadn't been with me, not a day in the future they wouldn't be following me.
Now each new day is not so frightening. In fact, I wake up in the morning looking forward to the journey (smiles) and looking forward to my destination. (pulls out the invitation) Did I tell you I have an invitation -- (exits while looking at invitation, then pauses and reads invitation again with awe) to live in the house of the Lord ... forever.
