Right Where You Are© Message:
Serving where God has placed you, he has a purpose for your life.
Cast:
Four including off-stage voice of God Charlie: older man, shoemaker Jimmy: a young boy 6 – 10 years of age Becky: late teen to twenties Note all except God could be either male or female
Set:
none
Props:
rocking chair, shoes, letter
Lighting:
a spot
Sound:
as available
Costumes:
standard
Time:
30 minutes
Script: as lights come up Charlie is reading a letter Charlie:
A final defeat, that’s what it is! waves papers Right here! See this? (reads) “We regret to inform you that unfortunately, due to your advanced age . . .” “Advanced age?” I will show you advanced age! A conspiracy, that’s what it is! looks upward, tearful Why Lord? You know all I ever wanted was to see you, to serve you. But not one single time, in my fifty-seven years on this earth, have you shown yourself to me, allowed me to be your foot-servant. Foot-servant! Feet! That is the sum total of my existence! A mindless existence making mindless coverings to keep the sweetsmelling feet of the privileged from feeling cold, or pain, or sharp objects, or discomfort. A shoemaker. A cobbler. Is that all that they can place on my tombstone?
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contemptuously A shoemaker. A cobbler! Better being a criminal, seems like. At least that’s a something to claim on a life worth living! Jimmy comes on stage Jimmy:
Hi Uncle Charlie!
Charlie:
How many times must I explain to all of you in this town, I am not your uncle, I am not in any way related to anyone in this nondescript village!
Jimmy:
Don’t be silly Uncle Charlie, you are everybody’s Uncle Charlie.
Charlie:
Listen to me very carefully boy! I do not wish to be everyone’s Uncle Charlie, do you not understand that, boy?
Jimmy:
Sure Uncle Charlie, whatever you say. I just wanted to say thanks for fixing my shoes Uncle Charlie.
Charlie:
Look, don’t be bringing those shoes back next time you wear a hole in them, you hear?
Jimmy:
What’s wrong Uncle Charlie, you seem kinda grumpy. Not like you to be grumpy Uncle Charlie. I know, how about a big hug Uncle Charlie?
Jimmy hugs Charlie’s leg, Charlie tries to be upset, a slow smile comes on his face, he ruffles Jimmy’s hair Jimmy:
There, that feels better, doesn’t it, Uncle Charlie?
Charlie:
Well, yeah, guess it does, it’s just that, . . . oh come over here let me hug ya Jimmy!
Jimmy:
Wanna tell me what’s wrong Uncle Charlie?
Charlie:
Oh you wouldn’t understand Jimmy, it’s just that grownups they run into problems seems like. Do both me and you a favour Jimmy, just stay little and young and unbedazzled.
Jimmy:
What’s unbedazzled Uncle Charlie?
Charlie:
Oh Jimmy, you’re just little, you wouldn’t understand, it’s . . .
Jimmy:
I know Uncle Charlie, I know I am just little and don’t understand, but that’s why God sent me you Uncle Charlie, to tell me all these things. I
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mean, me not havin’ a dad and all, I mean, what would I do without havin’ you Uncle Charlie? Charlie:
But you don’t understand Jimmy, see it’s, I wasn’t supposed to be a shoe maker, I was . . .
Jimmy:
What time is it Uncle Charlie?
Charlie:
What’s that, . . . oh . . . (looks at his watch) . . . it’s just about two-thirty and like I was sayin’ I . . . .
Jimmy:
Oh man! My mom made me promise I’d be home before two-thirty or she would have my hide. Look, I would love to stay and chat Uncle Charlie, want you to tell me another Jesus story, but . . . . . see ya Uncle Charlie! Maybe I will be back later for that Jesus story, Uncle Charlie.
Jimmy runs off stage, just before leaving stage he stops, rushes back, hugs Charlie’s leg, rushes off stage Charlie:
Ya, well, see ya Jimmy. (looks off stage, shakes his head, hands up in frustration) See, that’s just the point. My life is nothing more than fixing little kid’s wore out shoes, listening to their problems, wiping their noses. See, I was made for more than this! I was gonna be somebody. I was gonna be a missionary, a doctor, maybe even an evangelist. Some evangelist! All it is, is, “Hey Uncle Charlie, can you fix my boots?” Or, “you’ll never guess what, Uncle Charlie, heel popped off by shoe again!” See, thing is, I was supposed to save souls . . . all I do is . . . (picks up a shoe) . . fix soles! I remember, I was a kid, Camp Meeting came to town, my mom and me we went every night. Old Pastor Wiggins he said to me, “Boy, you’re just flat out a natural to be a missionary is what you are!” Yeah, right! Flat out a natural to miss the boat is what! It could have been so different, know what I mean? I mean, I could’a gone off to Africa, China, somewhere where folks needed to hear the Word! What do I end up with? Telling Jesus stories to little Jimmy in my own home town! Some missionary! Meanwhile folks in Africa never heard the Word, and it’s all my fault!
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(picks up paper) And now it’s this! “We regret to inform you that . . . .” Becky comes on stage, hurries over to hug Charlie Becky:
Oh Uncle Charlie! It’s so good to see you!
Charlie:
Hey, who’s this? Hey, it’s Becky, isn’t it Becky Palmer?
Becky:
Yes, it is Uncle Charlie! Oh, Uncle Charlie! You have no idea how good it is to see you again!
Charlie:
Becky, I thought you were over in Africa somewhere, what brings you back here to . .
Becky:
I am back on furlough Uncle Charlie, it’s good to be back home.
Charlie:
Tell me, how are things Becky, I mean, you just don’t know how proud we are of you, you in what is it, Zaire, spreading the word of God.
Becky:
Oh Uncle Charlie, it is incredible! It is frustrating, seems like there are roadblocks and failures at every turn. But it is incredible!
Charlie:
I envy you Becky! Becky Palmer, missionary to Africa!
Becky:
It is just like you said it would be Uncle Charlie. Remember what you used to always used to say to me when I was little? (talks like Charlie) “Missionary! Toughest job you’ll ever love, Becky Palmer!”
Charlie:
I said that?
Becky:
Yes you did Uncle Charlie. Every time I came in here, after school, you would give me that missionary lecture talk.
Charlie:
Too bad I didn’t give the lecture talk to myself, seems like.
Becky:
Oh, and before I forget, Don Evans sends his love.
Charlie:
Little Donnie, he’s . .
Becky:
Actually he isn’t known as little Donnie anymore, and he is the Outreach Coordinator, in charge of that whole mission field.
Charlie:
Donnie Evans? In charge of something? Don’t ever say God doesn’t still do miracles! Why I recall when that kid couldn’t even be trusted to . . .
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Becky:
Don was telling us how it was you who led him to the Lord.
Charlie:
God for sure did a miracle!
Becky, laughing: Don told us that the turnaround in his life came right after you threatened physical violence if he didn’t change his lifestyle. Charlie:
Thing is, sometimes a guy needs a reality check before God sets out to do his miracles.
Becky:
And remember Tom Lyons and Tanya Fong?
Charlie:
Last I heard they were over in Africa as well, dating from what I heard.
Becky:
Not dating anymore, they were married last month.
Charlie:
For sure God does work in marvellous ways!
Becky:
You were an influence in their lives too Uncle Charlie. Do you have any idea how many people you influenced to get involved in . . .
Charlie, embarrassed: So anyhow, you say you just got to town, so best you get heading out to visit your folks. Becky:
I wanted to thank you Uncle Charlie. In person. Again.
Charlie:
Hey, listen, you get going, outta here, I am way behind, got boots for old Fred Dunham, need new toes in his shoes again, I declare that man must be kickin’ ideas around the way he wears out the toes in his . . .
Becky, hugs Charlie, kisses him on the cheek: Thank you Uncle Charlie! Charlie:
Get outta here, now scat!
Becky:
I’m going, I’m going! See you in church on Sunday? They have asked me to say a few words.
Charlie:
You? Becky Palmer? A few words? Best we all bring along fried chicken and potato salad to church, once you get started no telling when we will be done. Now get!
Becky:
I love you Uncle Charlie! Bye!
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Becky runs off stage, Charlie sadly watches her leave, turns back, thinking Charlie:
All those young ones, missionaries. Not fair is what. Not one bit fair. Could’a been me. Could’a been, you know.
Charlie pulls up a rocking chair, settles down, fidgeting Charlie:
It was the training I didn’t get the chance to get. Had I got the training, I could’a been the missionary, same as any the rest of them.
Charlie stretches, yawns Charlie:
It was all I really wanted from life you know. Bringing people to the Lord, folks who had never heard the Word.
Charlie begins to nod, sleepy Charlie:
Always saw myself in Africa, Rhodesia maybe . . . .
Charlie’s chin falls to his chest as he falls asleep lights off after a short time lights back up, God’s off-stage voice heard God:
So how’s the shoemaker Charlie?
Charlie, startled jumps to his feet, wiping sleep from his eyes Charlie:
Hey, sorry, guess I didn’t see you slip in the shop, sorry about that. How can I help you sir?
God:
How can you help me? Just you keep on keeping on is what Charlie. Just you keep doing what you been doing, is just great.
Charlie:
Keep doing? Sorry, I remember all my customers, can’t say I recall serving you here before.
God:
Oh yes, you have been serving me right from the beginning Charlie, right from the beginning.
Charlie:
Let’s see, you’re from over in Anderson County, right? High top boots?
God:
No, not from Anderson County, Charlie. And, guess you could say I am more of a sandal kinda guy.
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Charlie:
Sandals? Way sandals are made nowadays they’re not worthy of time it takes fixing your sandals.
God:
John, he used to yell at the church folks, telling them he wasn’t worthy of tying my sandals.
Charlie:
Tying sandals? Those cheap imports they are bringing in now, leather laces, not worth hauling outta the store is what. Tell you what, you want a quality sandal you go down to Robinsons Dry Goods, they just got a shipment of . . .
God:
I wanted to thank you Charlie.
Charlie:
Thank me? Can’t even remember your name . .
God:
Not important, I have many names.
Charlie:
Not important? Everybody gotta have a name. Now more than ever. My accountant says I gotta get me a computer, all customers have to have an account number. First to give you an account number I gotta have a name for you so that . . .
God:
I Am.
Charlie:
What’s that? Iyam? Don’t remember off hand any Iyam, let me check the files, that would be (spells out) I-Y-A-M . .
God:
I am not in the files Charlie. It is I, . . . God.
Charlie, shocked, frightened: God? As in . . . God? God:
Yes, Charlie, God.
Charlie:
I don’t know what to do, what to say, I mean, always, when I thought of meeting with you, like in person, it was expected that would be you know, across the river.
God:
The river? Which river is that?
Charlie:
The river . . as in ., . heaven. (Charlie shows panicked look, slaps himself on the forehead) Where is my mind? I should be flat on my face, singing choruses of praises, throwing flowers at your feet, worthy is the lamb who was . . .
God:
Charlie!
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Charlie, singing, badly off key: Let there be glory and honour and praising, glory and honour to . . . God:
Charlie! Charlie! It’s OK . .
Charlie:
But I know I am supposed to . .
God:
Charlie! It’s OK. I am here for a short talk with you. Let’s make a deal, the . . ah . . praising, save that for the . .the, . . river. OK?
Charlie:
Well, if you are sure, I mean . . . Hey wait, of course you are sure, I mean, after all you are the one with a thousand names: mighty warrior, prince of ...
God:
God. Remember, it’s a short visit, let’s just leave it as God for this time.
Charlie:
Certainly, I mean, after all if you . . .
God:
Why are you not satisfied with the role to which I have called you Charlie?
Charlie:
The role?
God:
Yes, the role. I keep hearing you lament the fact you have not gone to foreign missions.
Charlie:
Of course that upsets me! That is what you called me to do with my life.
God:
No, Charlie! That’s what you called you to do with your life. What I have called you to do, you have been right here doing all along.
Charlie:
You called me to be a . . . shoemaker?
God:
Something wrong with being a shoemaker?
Charlie:
Nothing wrong with it at all, but I was called for ministry, to be a missionary. You didn’t cause Paul to be a shoemaker.
God:
No I did not, I caused him to be a tentmaker. As I recall there were days he didn’t do cartwheels over the fairness of that either.
Charlie:
But see what Paul was able to do by being a missionary.
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God:
Paul was an outstanding missionary. But my take is that Paul’s greatest contribution was in the young missionaries which he groomed to carry on the work.
Charlie:
Fine, so here is Paul, a great missionary and a groomer of missionaries. And me, I fix shoes.
God:
I have never thought this of you before, but I am disappointed in you Charlie. Did you really think that I would put you in a position where your skills would not be used in the very best way?
Charlie:
Which is?
God:
Charlie, you are a groomer, from the very mold of Paul.
Charlie:
A groomer? I have never trained a missionary in my life! Sorry, you are wrong!
God:
I beg your pardon? I, God, am wrong?
Charlie:
Oooops, sorry, what I meant was . . .
God:
Let’s just leave it that that comment is purged from my memory.
Charlie:
Thank you God.
God:
For what?
Charlie:
I get you, thanks!
God:
Had I sent you out into the mission field Charlie, you would have been very effective, many would have come to know me. But because I used you here I have a total of forty-three missionaries in the field, missionaries who were challenged and groomed by you, to take my word to all nations.
Charlie:
So that’s why . . .
God:
That’s why Charlie.
Charlie:
Amazing!
God:
Glad you approve Charlie.
Charlie:
Guess it’s like you wrote, your thoughts are greater than my thoughts.
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God:
Yes I did. And yes they are. And nothing has happened in the ages since to cause me to rethink that. I have a will, a purpose for your life Charlie. And it isn’t just a hip-pocket kind of thing that I decided on yesterday. I had my plan for you in place from the beginning of time Charlie. And I gotta tell you, the plan is working just fine.
Charlie:
Amazing!
God:
Yes, you are Charlie. Fact is, you remind me a bit of myself.
Charlie:
Amazing! And what about tomorrow? Can you tell me what plans you have for me? Will there be others to . . groom?
God:
Best you don’t know all the details in advance Charlie. Just suffice to say that there will be more, many more. Including a young man who, as I recall, is coming in for a Jesus story later today.
Charlie:
Jimmy? You’re kidding? Ooops, but I mean, like .. . Jimmy?
God:
Jimmy.
Charlie:
Guess it just proves the old saying, “God doesn’t call the equipped, he equips the called”.
God:
Yes I do. With your help Charlie. With your grooming. We will talk later Charlie. Oh, and Charlie, thanks for being here, right where you are.
lights out, during which time Charlie goes back to sleeping position on the chair lights back up Jimmy comes on stage, sees Charlie sleeping, carefully shakes Charlie’s shoulder Jimmy:
Uncle Charlie! Wake up Uncle Charlie!
Charlie, wakes up Charlie:
Hey, what’s . . where’s God?
Jimmy, looks at Charlie quizzically: Well, what you always tell me Uncle Charlie, is that God is in heaven. So I guess that’s likely where he is. Charlie:
But he was here and he . . .
Jimmy:
Are you OK Uncle Charlie?
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Charlie, shakes his head, clearing the sleep: OK? Oh yes, Jimmy! I am very OK, very OK indeed. Jimmy:
Well, so do you have time to tell me a Jesus story? Cause I mean, if you are too busy I can like come back another time.
Charlie:
Time? Of course I have time little Jimmy missionary. This is prime time, grooming time is what!
Jimmy:
Grooming? Maybe we don’t have you cut my hair again Uncle Charlie. Remember what happened last time, you kept evening it out until I was about as bald as old Doc Stevenson. My mom was not impressed!
Charlie:
No, no, Jimmy, not the hair. Quite a different kinda grooming actually. By the way, young man, ever thought about being a missionary when you grow up?
Jimmy:
Nope, not me, gonna be a shoemaker, just like you Uncle Charlie.
Charlie:
Well, Jimmy, let me tell you this. I have it on real good authority that being a missionary would be a great fit for you! Let’s us go read a Jesus story about this missionary fella name of Paul.
actors off stage
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