SermonStudio

God wants to do more in our lives than we can ask or imagine, but often we feel that because of the circumstances of our lives, the dreams we once had are impossible. In this drama a woman is encouraged to see her life through God's eyes. This drama works well for women's events such as retreats or luncheons.

Cast

Builder -- woman in her twenties, thirties, or early forties; determined, but without dreams

Inquirer -- woman who asks questions, makes an observation, and then goes on her way

Discourager -- woman who tears down with her sugar-coated words

Friend -- woman who enters a life and makes a difference

Setting And Costumes

No special setting or costumes are needed.

Props

25 large cardboard building blocks (shoeboxes wrapped in brown mailing paper work well)



(A woman is building her "life" with bricks or large blocks. She is placing them on the floor making a square of bricks around her, five on each side. She has three of the sides laid down so far. As she builds, she counts to make sure each side is just right.)

Builder: (counting the bricks on each side) One, two, three, four, five ... One, two, three, four, five ... One, two ...

Inquirer: (enters and watches her, then interrupts the counting) What are you building?

Builder: My life.

Inquirer: It's ... um ... well, a little small, isn't it?

Builder: It's cozy. Excuse me, (moves Inquirer back a little) you're standing right where my fourth wall goes.

Inquirer: How do you know all the dimensions of your life already? I mean ... you have so much of it ahead of you. (begins walking around examining her "life") You might want to expand over here. (walks to another side) Or do some planting over here. (lifts up head and looks around in the distance) Your property is amazing. There is so much for you here.

Builder: (not listening to Inquirer, traces a little square beside the bricks with her toe) And this ... (finishes tracing) will be my fence. (turns back to count) One, two, three, four, five. (puts the last blocks in place and steps inside) This is it. This is my life.

Inquirer: Are you sure? This is it?

Builder: (steps out of square and begins walking around it's edges) I have only a medium amount of education, (turns corner) less than medium finances, (turns corner) I'm a woman at home with three kids, (turns corner) and a husband, and a dog. I'd say my life is pretty well defined. (steps back inside the square) But thanks for asking.

Inquirer: Well, okay. Good-bye.

Builder: Good-bye. (She goes back to silently counting and straightening the blocks and then sits back down. When Discourager begins to talk, Builder listens with a discouraged expression, but doesn't stop her.)

Discourager: (enters and examines the square --aa little patronizing) Oh, Honey ... five bricks? Are you sure you can handle a life that big? Here ... (begins to rearrange making the square of bricks smaller and confining the Builder more and more) Let's take a few out. I always say, "Don't dream big and you won't have big disappointments." Maybe if you'd finished your master's degree and had a little more money and time, you could handle a five-brick life. But you're young, and you have a family, and ... time goes so fast that soon you'll be old. How will you handle a five-brick life when you're eighty? Have you thought of that? No. I think a four-brick life is just perfect for you. (finishes rearranging the bricks then decides to offer one last word of "encouragement") You hang in there. You'll make it!

(Builder seems deflated, just nods and sits in her "life." Friend walks in gazing off into the distance. Walks right into the bricks knocking them out of place.)

Builder: (annoyed, gets up, points at the scattered bricks) You just walked into my life.

Friend: (looks at the bricks) Oh, you're right. Were you building it?

Builder: No, I finished building it. I was sitting in it.

Friend: I have to show you something.

(Builder doesn't want to leave her "life" but then hesitantly comes out and stands by Friend. Friend puts one arm around Builder's shoulder, with the other hand points out into the distance.)

Friend: Do you see that?

Builder: (squinting, trying to see) See what?

Friend: Keep looking.

Builder: What are we looking at?

Friend: Your life.

Builder: No, (points toward bricks) this is my life. I'd just finished building it when you walked into it.

Friend: (motions out toward the distance) But this is what God has for your life. (continues to look, suddenly gets an expression as if she's seen something amazing)

Builder: God knows I have three kids, a husband and...?

Friend: (finishing her question) And a dog? He knows.

Builder: He knows I didn't finish college?

Friend: He knows. He also knows that was one of your dreams. He knows all your dreams, the deepest desires of your heart. He planted them in you.

Builder: I've had to bury those dreams away. Do you know that I used to dream of a ten-brick life?

Friend: God dreams even more for you than a ten-brick life, more than you can imagine.

Builder: (slightly anxious) I ... wouldn't have enough bricks for all that. I only have enough for a five-brick life. And ... how would I ever manage a life like that? You know, I'm too young, and then soon I'll be too old, and what if ... (falls silent for a moment) Do you really think God wants to do all this in my life?

Friend: I do.

Builder: Well ... where do I start?

Friend: Start with these bricks. But build a pathway. I'll help you. And start with your dreams, but this time don't just bury them ... plant them.

(The two begin to build as the lights go out.)