Jan’s Message of Hope & Inspiration on StettlerLocal.com June 3/20

Monologue ~ A Surprise Package, By Christin Kuck

Summary: What if you received a gift on your doorstep, but were to afraid to open for fear it might be something really nice. If it turns out to be something you really like, God might ask you to share it with someone else. Maybe it’s better not knowing.

Scripture: “Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17

Props: Garbage can, a chair, and a side table. A package wrapped like a birthday present

Script
I suppose you’re wondering what I’m doing. Staring at this package. It’s simple really. But a little complicated.

I found it on my doorstep two days ago. I know, you’re wondering why I haven’t opened it? Frankly, I’m afraid. Oh, no. I don’t think it’s a bomb or a rattlesnake or something like that. See, my birthday was yesterday, so it’s probably a very nice gift. In fact I’m sure it’s a really nice gift!

That’s the problem.

I mean, well, okay....let’s say for instance it’s.......a new Bible from my Minister. Now, my Minister wouldn’t give me just any old Bible. They’d make sure this was the super duper kind. You know--- a reference Bible complete with maps and charts, a concordance, a Greek dictionary. The words of Jesus would be in some psychedelic color. Oh, not to say I wouldn’t love a Bible like that. I would. But, a Bible like that... There’s no telling how much I’d grow spiritually. And then someone from church would call--- "Can you come lead the Wednesday night Bible Study". And Lord knows, I just don’t have time for that.

But maybe it’s not a Bible. Maybe, just maybe, it’s money. Cold, hard cash. Lots of it! Okay. You might need to use your imagination a little here, so bear with me. Let’s say one of my long lost relatives died, uh... Great Aunt Millie. And, she left me a million bucks. A million bucks. What I could do with that kind of money? Why, I could buy a new car-- I could buy three new cars! And a house, and a boat!

Ahhhhhh! Who am I fooling. I’d have to share it. Share it! I mean, if some poor sap isn’t lucky enough to have a long lost Aunt Millie kick the bucket, then why should I have to pay?
And then I’d have to give a percentage to the church. Why, I’d only have 900 thousand left! I’d just rather not even know if it’s money!

But, maybe it’s not money after all. Maybeeeeee, it’s something I’ve wanted all my life. Like a violin. Yeah, a violin. If I had a violin, then I could play all the classics. Rachmaninoff, Rimsky Korsakov, Tchaikovsky, The Rolling Stones! And then people would say of me, "Bravo, Bravo. You are so wonderful. Please, play more for us."

And then church would call. "Can you come play for us, too?" Me! The maestro! How could I lower myself to play for a measly five hundred people after I’ve played for the masses.

(Sighs. Looks back at package)

You know. (Picks up package) I don’t think I want to open this after all. (Throws package in garbage can.) If I open it, there’s no telling how I’ll have to use it.
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© Christin J. Kuck - 1999. All rights reserved. This script may not be altered without permission from the copyright holder. This script may be freely copied and distributed, providing it is done so in its entirety by the Licensee. This copyright notice and the performance license information must be reproduced on all copies of the script.PERFORMANCE LICENSE No performance is permitted unless a copy of the script is licensed to at least one member of the cast OR licensed to the drama group, theatre company or organization performing the sketch. Lincense can be obtained by forwarding a check made out to Christin Kuck in the amount of $5.00 US to 13341 86th Avenue, Seminole, FL 33776. An original licensed hard copy will be mailed upon receipt of check. Christin Kuck can be reached by email at anonadrama@hotmail.com

There’s no telling…
That little monologue (script) made me think of the people who’ve recently told me that their kids – or their household -- have been ninja'd. In this time of social distancing there have been those who leave surprize gifts on doorsteps. Imagine… something arrives on the doorstep, without a card or note, and, therefore the giver is anonymous. You might wonder if someone got mixed up and thought it was your birthday when it wasn’t. The confusion… the anonymity makes it hard to clarify… hard to say thank-you.

This winter, some of us at Stettler United Church read/engaged with this thought-filled book: Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks, by Diana Butler Bass.

I get to see it all the time. I live and work with people being generous. And that does not always mean that the people who are generous are the ones who are rich (in terms of wealth). There are soooo many ways for people to be generous… and we often worry if we have thanked everyone who’ve supplied and supported the church for it’s work in the community.

From this book about Gratitude, I remember Diana talking about her daughter being young, confused and saddened… wondering why Santa gave her so much when she couldn’t even say thank you! Of course, she’d been taught by her parents, grandparents and church community “the norm of reciprocity” – give and take. You’re given a gift you say thank you before you even take it.

Pay it forward is how many people endeavour to repay an anonymous giver. And the church has definitely been part of how people say someone was there when they needed a hand up and now they’re wanting to pass it along to whoever is in need at this time.

Our hearts opening is what the script/monologue is really about. Opening the actual gift bag was never the point. It’s about opening our hearts to gratitude… to grace. Diana Butler-Bass writes that gratitude is the deep ability to embrace the gift of who we are NOT what we have but who we are!

The script lays it on pretty thick as it puts the church on the spot regarding having high expectations when it comes to people sharing their gifts with others. And yet we know how grand it is when the community – unity in diversity – comes together and everyone contributes as they’re able. I join with Diana Butler Bass in saying that gifts and gratitude are part of the very fabric of life in/on this universe. She preaches/teaches that God is an Indiscriminate Giver. The gifts of creation surprise and sustain us. Untagged gifts – thus, untargeted gratitude takes us out of the cycle of obligation into the large circle of shared gifts… mutual enjoyment and responsibility. We open our hearts to the constant flow of receiving and responding that happens all around us all the time. That which makes us more generous is a matter of Heart.

And who but Piglet can weave that together for us….

Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude. A. A. Milne

We are blessed to be a blessing.

May that inspire hope in your heart today, and in the days and times to come.

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