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FREEDOM  5'?m3f Freedom: the ability to sacrifice

(scene: several rows of chairs facing podium)

(Student and an unspecified number of other students carrying
Bibles enter one or two at a time, sit, leaving chair closest to
audience empty, except in the first row, where Student sits)

TEACHER -- (enters carrying Bible and notes, crosses to podium)
Hello everybody.

ALL -- (shout various greetings)

TEACHER -- Did you all study this week's scripture passages?

ALL -- (shout various affirmatives)

TEACHER -- Good. Let's study the Bible then. Open to Galatians
5:1.

(all comply)

TEACHER -- Who wants to read the verse?

(several raise hands)

TEACHER -- (points) Okay.

STUDENT -- (stands) "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free."

BAGLADY -- (enters pushing loaded shopping cart or carrying
several bulging bags)

TEACHER -- May I help you?

BAGLADY -- Ah, no, it... it started raining outside so I came in
to keep dry. Am I interrupting something?

TEACHER -- This is a Bible study. Would you like to join us?

BAGLADY -- Oh,... sure. (leaves bags, sits in last row closest
to audience, begins silently begging for money from a student
in the row ahead)

TEACHER -- Please read the verse again.

STUDENT -- "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free."

TEACHER -- While you're up, why don't you read John 8:36 too?

STUDENT -- Oh, sure. (flips quickly to marked pages) "So if the
Son sets you free, you will be free indeed". (sits)

BAGLADY -- (stands, bends, begs more aggressively for money from
the student in the row ahead)

TEACHER -- Okay. Can anyone tell us what freedom is? (points at
Baglady) Yes, would you like to tell us what freedom is?

BAGLADY -- Who? Me?

TEACHER -- Yes. Can you tell us what freedom is?

BAGLADY -- (straightens) Yes, well, I'd say I'm pretty much an
expert on freedom. Freedom is not being tied down... you know,
tied down to house payments and car payments, and utility bills.
I'd say it's not being shackled by house work and paper work and
school work. (moves forward one row, sits, begins begging for
money from the student in the row ahead)

TEACHER -- Is that all there is to freedom in your opinion?

BAGLADY -- (oblivious, stands bending, points to own open palm,
begs silently)

TEACHER -- I say, is it your opinion that that's all there is to
freedom?

BAGLADY -- (straightens) Oh, you're talking to me?

TEACHER -- Yes.

BAGLADY -- Oh, there's a lot more to freedom. I'd say freedom is
also not being a slave to fashion, like being able to wear a 
white dress after Labor day or being able to order red wine with 
fish. (moves forward one row, sits, begs for money from the row 
ahead)

TEACHER -- I see. And would you say that your lifestyle
characterizes freedom?

BAGLADY -- (oblivious, stands bending, points to own open palm,
begs silently)

TEACHER -- I say, would you say that your lifestyle
characterizes freedom?

BAGLADY -- (straightens) Oh, you're talking to me?

TEACHER -- Yes.

BAGLADY -- Oh. Yeah. I'd say that freedom doesn't get much more
free than me. I mean, I don't punch a time clock. (moves forward
one row, sits, begs for money from Student in front row)

TEACHER -- Does anyone else think they know what freedom is?

STUDENT -- (raises hand)

TEACHER -- Yes?

STUDENT -- (stands) I think when we talk about freedom, we
should look to Jesus for an example.

TEACHER -- And how did Jesus exhibit freedom?

STUDENT -- In two ways, I think. First, freedom is upward
mobility, the ability to do great things. For example, Jesus was
a carpenter by trade, yet, he became so famous that they changed
the calendar to start at the date of his birth and they still
celebrate both his birth and his death all around the world to
this day. (sits)

TEACHER -- (point to Baglady) What about you? Do you think your
brand of freedom gives you upward mobility? Do you have the
expectation of greatness?

BAGLADY -- Not unless an armored truck spills its load.

TEACHER -- Okay, (points to Student) you mentioned TWO ways
Jesus exhibited freedom.

STUDENT -- (stands) Oh, yes, the other freedom is the freedom to
give up small things in order to reach for greater things.

TEACHER -- Can you give us an example?

STUDENT -- Yes. Jesus was God. He had all the power in the
universe, but he gave it up and relied on God the Father as his
source of power in order to make us all free.

TEACHER -- Good. How about another example?

STUDENT -- Sure. Jesus gave up his life in order to give us life
for all eternity.

TEACHER -- Two good examples of freedom. (points to Baglady) How
about you?

BAGLADY -- Me?

TEACHER -- Yes.

BAGLADY -- What about me?

TEACHER -- You said you exhibit freedom. What freedoms could you
give up to achieve even greater freedoms?

BAGLADY -- I don't have anything to give up.

TEACHER -- Then, can you say that you are truly free?

BAGLADY -- (crossing to exit) I'm free to leave.

TEACHER -- But it's raining outside.

BAGLADY -- (turns) Yeah, well, what do you want for nothing?
(exits)

ALL -- (exit opposite praising Student)

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