Hatching The Golden Rule
Drama
Women In The Wings
20 Biblical Monologues
Making It Preach
It is easy for us to forget that Jesus was comparing us with the unmerciful servant, not the king nor the one the servant would not forgive. Thus it is in the kingdom of heaven, Jesus comments before this parable. He shared this story to remind his followers that not forgiving one who wrongs us is like trampling God's immeasurable gift of mercy in the dirt. The concluding verse of Matthew 18 warns that God does not take such disrespect lightly. Yet, Jesus gave us the way to avoid God's wrath, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near (Matthew 4:17). Our storyteller provides us with a small example of what that means. She confesses her own sin to God and stops misusing her power as a corporate vigilante. Instead, she tells Christ's story, giving God the credit for truly setting things right. She repents and seeks to right her sinful lack of mercy and reminds the congregation to do the same.
Making It Play
Business attire and an attitude of confidence and almost arrogant competence make up this woman's ensemble. She should be played slightly larger-than-life to become a fun and inventive storyteller. As 9/11 and the Enron collapse fade into the history books, feel free to choose more contemporary examples of stock market instability and corporate corruption. Do not be afraid to add some pretend gun slinging and any other bits of playacting this woman might use to make her story more dramatic. But, her final plea to the congregation should be sincere and filled with concern for the listeners.
The Parable Of The Unmerciful Servant Given A Modern Twist
Hey! What are you looking at? You think that just because I come out of the Bible I have to wear a tunic and sandals? I'll tell you something, I get mighty tired of that having to keep my hair covered rule. Besides, since Jesus told parables using settings with which the people were familiar, you are the very people who need to recognize me, today -- and I don't see any of you ladies wearing a heavy, old cloth on your heads!
Who am I? Just call me "Jacki-of-all-Trades." I answer phones, respond to email, run to Starbucks, do the newsletter, get the company cars washed, and anything else the big muckety-mucks ask me to do. I'm invaluable precisely because I'm flexible; if a job doesn't fit into anyone else's job description, it gets added to mine. My job description is currently almost four pages long. Now, that's what I call job security! Talking with you folks today is yet another facet of what I do; it is the most important facet, one I know inside and out. In fact, if I stopped doing it, I would have to cease to exist, and I have never been one to blend quietly into the background! So, sit back, relax, but not too much -- if I notice any of you sleeping, I might just have to box you on the ears! You see, I've got a story to tell.
In this company, we had an ambitious bookkeeper named Ted who always had a smile on his face and a scheme in his heart. He was always trying to impress the higher-ups with one ingenious plan after another, swearing each one would save the company thousands of dollars per year, per quarter, per month! And, most of the time, they would patiently smile, nod, and pay absolutely no attention to what he was saying. So, he decided to take matters into his own hands; matters, may I add, that he had no authority touching with a ten-foot pole! He switched some numbers around, set up a phony account, and diverted a huge chunk of change into an investment portfolio he was sure would make big bucks, and then he'd be rewarded with some colossal promotion. Well, he did this over time, finishing up somewhere around September 10, 2001 -- are you starting to get the picture, here? I even asked him if he'd lost somebody in the 9/11 tragedy, since his ever-present smile became forced and he looked worse and worse every day. "No, no -- I'm just a little under the weather, that's all. Don't worry, nothing keeps me down for long!" he'd answer, making a lame attempt at enthusiasm.
Now, he was pretty clever at covering things up, but by year-end, it became obvious that our profits could not have plunged as much as the figures were showing. At audit time, they finally put their fingers on the leak and our little Dutch boy found himself with a lot of explaining to do. Yep! He was on his way up ... as in, up the elevator to the floors where the big bosses have their offices, and he found himself in the wigwam of the C.F.O., Big Chief Finance Officer! Okay, I'll admit I did not have any specific reason to be on that floor at that time ... but I came up with one! And, let me tell you, Little Scout went into the biggest sob story you've ever heard about how his mother was diagnosed with cancer, but had no insurance, and his wife was having difficulty with her pregnancy. He just knew that if somebody noticed him, he had so much to offer the company at higher levels of responsibility, which would also allow him to take care of his family's needs, blah-blah-blah-blah-blah.
And, you know something? Little Scout is quite an actor, and Big Chief was drawn into the performance. Yep, I got the whole scoop from one of my many sources! Big Chief was moved to show more compassion in that one case than I had seen him display in all the years I've worked here! They sat down and talked about ways to do damage control, which wouldn't be easy after the Enron collapse, and then they worked out a plan for Little Scout to work off a percentage of the money they had lost -- work it off! That little weasel didn't even get fired! Now, granted, if his mother was really that ill and his wife and baby were in trouble, I didn't want to see them hurt by his arrogance. But, I found myself just shaking my head as Buddy-boy joined me in the elevator heading back down. "What?" he asked. I just gave him an innocent shrug.
I'll tell you, though my impression of the C.F.O. as a brilliant business shark was tainted a bit, I found I liked him a lot more. But, my initial impressions of Ted the bookkeeper soon proved to be frighteningly astute. Ted acted with forced humility for a few days, but it didn't take long for his true nature to come shining through. Jim, who is part of our maintenance crew and a great guy (he'd do anything to help you out!), went to Ted one morning and explained that he'd accidentally run into Ted's car in the parking lot. It had just started to rain and the pavement was slippery, but the recently forgiven cowboy was not in a forgiving mood. I like to read action stories -- so, sue me! Anyway, he demanded Jim's insurance card, and when Jim explained that his insurance had lapsed because he was low on money, but that he would pay the repair off as soon as he could, Ted pulled out the big guns. Half the people on the floor heard him; I think he wanted them to hear him, to draw attention to Jim's carelessness and make him feel about this (indicate with fingers) big. Ted declared that his car was a collector's model and that if Jim did not pay him off immediately, he would turn him in for having no insurance and take him to small claims court, seeking to bilk him for as much in the way of extra damages as he could muster.
I was appalled! How could that little snake escape the eagle's talons by such a narrow margin and then turn around and sink his fangs into Jim? What a creep! Now, I'll admit I didn't have any specific reason to take my distraught self up to the floor of the big bosses ... but I thought of one. So, there I was, noticeably becoming unglued outside the C.F.O.'s office, when his assistant asked me what was wrong. I casually leaned against his desk and just happened to hit the intercom to the C.F.O.'s office as I explained the antics of the Little Serpent with a big bite! And, what do you know? Big Chief heard the whole story -- oops! So, he quickly came out and had me repeat it, to make sure he was hearing me correctly. Ooo-ooh-eee! I think I actually heard him growl -- I guess he didn't get to his position by always being Mr. Nice Guy! He looked at me, dead serious, and asked if anyone else could corroborate my story. "Sure," I told him, "ask anyone who was sitting within a fifty-foot radius!" Then, he got this little smile on his face, one of those that lets you know you better be ready to duck at the right time 'cause "something wicked this way comes." Then, he offered me his arm and asked if I would accompany him on a little "snake hunt." Okay, maybe that's not what he said, but I knew what he meant!
And, you know what? I found myself worrying about Ted's mother and wife and child-to-be, as the elevator made its quick descent. I started hoping against hope that he had made all that stuff up, that they wouldn't be hurt because of Snake Boy, there, and because I was the one who squealed on him! I found myself praying, asking God if I had done the right thing. Well, I'm still not sure about that, but I have a feeling that if I hadn't let the snake out of the bag, it would have come out some other way. Everybody likes Jim, so Ted didn't score many popularity points that day. I don't know, even if God was using my natural curiosity to bust this guy out, I still needed to confess my sin in making the way for revenge. "Vengeance is mine!" sayeth the Lord -- not mine.
Well, as you could guess, fireworks exploded on the second floor! "I showed more mercy to you than I thought made good business sense because I felt sorry for you and your family. I gave you a break when I don't give breaks!" Big Chief's voice got louder and louder. "And, you have the gall to humiliate one of our most valuable employees because he accidentally made a boo-boo on your car?" Then, it was silent -- it was kind of eerie. His voice became suddenly calm. "You'd better pack your things, Ted, because after I call security, I will be calling the C.E.O. and then the police! I hope you don't object to being confined in a small cell for a long, long time." When Ted opened his mouth to speak, the Chieftain gave him a look that would douse a fire and marched down the hall with the purpose of the president on his way to a national security briefing.
No, it wasn't exactly any old day around the office. It sure showed me what can happen when you don't follow the Golden Rule. Next time you are tempted to not "do unto others as you'd have them do unto you," you might want to remember this Parable of the Unmerciful Servant, I mean, Bookkeeper. You see, before Jesus told this parable, Peter, his right hand man, thought he was being pretty generous -- like he was going to impress Jesus by offering to forgive his brother as many as seven times. Well, Jesus said that doesn't even begin to cover it, if you look at how many times God forgives us! Big Chief was generous once, really generous, but as soon as he got his buns burned, he turned nasty. And, most of us know that we would not even be here if that were how God decided to operate. But, by God's mercy in giving us Jesus, we are given a second chance, then a third, and a fifth, and a 105th on down the line.
Sure, there are people who just trip our triggers, and sometimes it may seem that teaching them a lesson would have a much better effect on them than biting our tongues and forgiving them. They deserve a dose of their own medicine, don't they? But, truthfully, the same could be said about us. "Oh, Pharmacist! Cancel that prescription." Anyone want to join me? It starts right here (point to cross).
It is easy for us to forget that Jesus was comparing us with the unmerciful servant, not the king nor the one the servant would not forgive. Thus it is in the kingdom of heaven, Jesus comments before this parable. He shared this story to remind his followers that not forgiving one who wrongs us is like trampling God's immeasurable gift of mercy in the dirt. The concluding verse of Matthew 18 warns that God does not take such disrespect lightly. Yet, Jesus gave us the way to avoid God's wrath, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near (Matthew 4:17). Our storyteller provides us with a small example of what that means. She confesses her own sin to God and stops misusing her power as a corporate vigilante. Instead, she tells Christ's story, giving God the credit for truly setting things right. She repents and seeks to right her sinful lack of mercy and reminds the congregation to do the same.
Making It Play
Business attire and an attitude of confidence and almost arrogant competence make up this woman's ensemble. She should be played slightly larger-than-life to become a fun and inventive storyteller. As 9/11 and the Enron collapse fade into the history books, feel free to choose more contemporary examples of stock market instability and corporate corruption. Do not be afraid to add some pretend gun slinging and any other bits of playacting this woman might use to make her story more dramatic. But, her final plea to the congregation should be sincere and filled with concern for the listeners.
The Parable Of The Unmerciful Servant Given A Modern Twist
Hey! What are you looking at? You think that just because I come out of the Bible I have to wear a tunic and sandals? I'll tell you something, I get mighty tired of that having to keep my hair covered rule. Besides, since Jesus told parables using settings with which the people were familiar, you are the very people who need to recognize me, today -- and I don't see any of you ladies wearing a heavy, old cloth on your heads!
Who am I? Just call me "Jacki-of-all-Trades." I answer phones, respond to email, run to Starbucks, do the newsletter, get the company cars washed, and anything else the big muckety-mucks ask me to do. I'm invaluable precisely because I'm flexible; if a job doesn't fit into anyone else's job description, it gets added to mine. My job description is currently almost four pages long. Now, that's what I call job security! Talking with you folks today is yet another facet of what I do; it is the most important facet, one I know inside and out. In fact, if I stopped doing it, I would have to cease to exist, and I have never been one to blend quietly into the background! So, sit back, relax, but not too much -- if I notice any of you sleeping, I might just have to box you on the ears! You see, I've got a story to tell.
In this company, we had an ambitious bookkeeper named Ted who always had a smile on his face and a scheme in his heart. He was always trying to impress the higher-ups with one ingenious plan after another, swearing each one would save the company thousands of dollars per year, per quarter, per month! And, most of the time, they would patiently smile, nod, and pay absolutely no attention to what he was saying. So, he decided to take matters into his own hands; matters, may I add, that he had no authority touching with a ten-foot pole! He switched some numbers around, set up a phony account, and diverted a huge chunk of change into an investment portfolio he was sure would make big bucks, and then he'd be rewarded with some colossal promotion. Well, he did this over time, finishing up somewhere around September 10, 2001 -- are you starting to get the picture, here? I even asked him if he'd lost somebody in the 9/11 tragedy, since his ever-present smile became forced and he looked worse and worse every day. "No, no -- I'm just a little under the weather, that's all. Don't worry, nothing keeps me down for long!" he'd answer, making a lame attempt at enthusiasm.
Now, he was pretty clever at covering things up, but by year-end, it became obvious that our profits could not have plunged as much as the figures were showing. At audit time, they finally put their fingers on the leak and our little Dutch boy found himself with a lot of explaining to do. Yep! He was on his way up ... as in, up the elevator to the floors where the big bosses have their offices, and he found himself in the wigwam of the C.F.O., Big Chief Finance Officer! Okay, I'll admit I did not have any specific reason to be on that floor at that time ... but I came up with one! And, let me tell you, Little Scout went into the biggest sob story you've ever heard about how his mother was diagnosed with cancer, but had no insurance, and his wife was having difficulty with her pregnancy. He just knew that if somebody noticed him, he had so much to offer the company at higher levels of responsibility, which would also allow him to take care of his family's needs, blah-blah-blah-blah-blah.
And, you know something? Little Scout is quite an actor, and Big Chief was drawn into the performance. Yep, I got the whole scoop from one of my many sources! Big Chief was moved to show more compassion in that one case than I had seen him display in all the years I've worked here! They sat down and talked about ways to do damage control, which wouldn't be easy after the Enron collapse, and then they worked out a plan for Little Scout to work off a percentage of the money they had lost -- work it off! That little weasel didn't even get fired! Now, granted, if his mother was really that ill and his wife and baby were in trouble, I didn't want to see them hurt by his arrogance. But, I found myself just shaking my head as Buddy-boy joined me in the elevator heading back down. "What?" he asked. I just gave him an innocent shrug.
I'll tell you, though my impression of the C.F.O. as a brilliant business shark was tainted a bit, I found I liked him a lot more. But, my initial impressions of Ted the bookkeeper soon proved to be frighteningly astute. Ted acted with forced humility for a few days, but it didn't take long for his true nature to come shining through. Jim, who is part of our maintenance crew and a great guy (he'd do anything to help you out!), went to Ted one morning and explained that he'd accidentally run into Ted's car in the parking lot. It had just started to rain and the pavement was slippery, but the recently forgiven cowboy was not in a forgiving mood. I like to read action stories -- so, sue me! Anyway, he demanded Jim's insurance card, and when Jim explained that his insurance had lapsed because he was low on money, but that he would pay the repair off as soon as he could, Ted pulled out the big guns. Half the people on the floor heard him; I think he wanted them to hear him, to draw attention to Jim's carelessness and make him feel about this (indicate with fingers) big. Ted declared that his car was a collector's model and that if Jim did not pay him off immediately, he would turn him in for having no insurance and take him to small claims court, seeking to bilk him for as much in the way of extra damages as he could muster.
I was appalled! How could that little snake escape the eagle's talons by such a narrow margin and then turn around and sink his fangs into Jim? What a creep! Now, I'll admit I didn't have any specific reason to take my distraught self up to the floor of the big bosses ... but I thought of one. So, there I was, noticeably becoming unglued outside the C.F.O.'s office, when his assistant asked me what was wrong. I casually leaned against his desk and just happened to hit the intercom to the C.F.O.'s office as I explained the antics of the Little Serpent with a big bite! And, what do you know? Big Chief heard the whole story -- oops! So, he quickly came out and had me repeat it, to make sure he was hearing me correctly. Ooo-ooh-eee! I think I actually heard him growl -- I guess he didn't get to his position by always being Mr. Nice Guy! He looked at me, dead serious, and asked if anyone else could corroborate my story. "Sure," I told him, "ask anyone who was sitting within a fifty-foot radius!" Then, he got this little smile on his face, one of those that lets you know you better be ready to duck at the right time 'cause "something wicked this way comes." Then, he offered me his arm and asked if I would accompany him on a little "snake hunt." Okay, maybe that's not what he said, but I knew what he meant!
And, you know what? I found myself worrying about Ted's mother and wife and child-to-be, as the elevator made its quick descent. I started hoping against hope that he had made all that stuff up, that they wouldn't be hurt because of Snake Boy, there, and because I was the one who squealed on him! I found myself praying, asking God if I had done the right thing. Well, I'm still not sure about that, but I have a feeling that if I hadn't let the snake out of the bag, it would have come out some other way. Everybody likes Jim, so Ted didn't score many popularity points that day. I don't know, even if God was using my natural curiosity to bust this guy out, I still needed to confess my sin in making the way for revenge. "Vengeance is mine!" sayeth the Lord -- not mine.
Well, as you could guess, fireworks exploded on the second floor! "I showed more mercy to you than I thought made good business sense because I felt sorry for you and your family. I gave you a break when I don't give breaks!" Big Chief's voice got louder and louder. "And, you have the gall to humiliate one of our most valuable employees because he accidentally made a boo-boo on your car?" Then, it was silent -- it was kind of eerie. His voice became suddenly calm. "You'd better pack your things, Ted, because after I call security, I will be calling the C.E.O. and then the police! I hope you don't object to being confined in a small cell for a long, long time." When Ted opened his mouth to speak, the Chieftain gave him a look that would douse a fire and marched down the hall with the purpose of the president on his way to a national security briefing.
No, it wasn't exactly any old day around the office. It sure showed me what can happen when you don't follow the Golden Rule. Next time you are tempted to not "do unto others as you'd have them do unto you," you might want to remember this Parable of the Unmerciful Servant, I mean, Bookkeeper. You see, before Jesus told this parable, Peter, his right hand man, thought he was being pretty generous -- like he was going to impress Jesus by offering to forgive his brother as many as seven times. Well, Jesus said that doesn't even begin to cover it, if you look at how many times God forgives us! Big Chief was generous once, really generous, but as soon as he got his buns burned, he turned nasty. And, most of us know that we would not even be here if that were how God decided to operate. But, by God's mercy in giving us Jesus, we are given a second chance, then a third, and a fifth, and a 105th on down the line.
Sure, there are people who just trip our triggers, and sometimes it may seem that teaching them a lesson would have a much better effect on them than biting our tongues and forgiving them. They deserve a dose of their own medicine, don't they? But, truthfully, the same could be said about us. "Oh, Pharmacist! Cancel that prescription." Anyone want to join me? It starts right here (point to cross).
