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THE NINTH INNING

MAIN POINT
Our society thrives on performance-based acceptance - in everything from sports to Christmas pageants. We throng to the achievers, pay respects to their accomplishments and fantasize about their possibilities. The image of the lone father giving a hug to his seemingly undeserving son no longer makes headlines in our society. The idea of a father figure quick to condemn and correct is unfortunately more often the norm. The difficulty with unconditional love is perhaps, and oddly enough, due to its intrinsic simplicity. We see ourselves daily as objects of constant reconsideration. Only after we manage to squeak out some "good," do we let ourselves enjoy the warmth of God's love. But make one slip and we imagine it's off to the heavenly woodshed. The two fathers in this sketch have sons with an obvious contrast in talent. Yet both sons are still loved and accepted by their fathers. That's an appropriate model of a heavenly Father who loves without condition.

CHARACTERIZATION
Both fathers have similar character traits.
Dad 1 gets very caught up in the game. He gets frustrated, but never angry. He is realistic, yet hopes his son will succeed in the ball game.
Dad 2 is supportive and encouraging of his son throughout.

DIRECTOR'S NOTES
1) The setting is bleachers behind the dugout of a little league ballfield. The two fathers are sitting in the bleachers, the audience is the field of play and an imaginary backstop fence is in-between. The fence should always remain between the fathers and sons.
2) The fathers should be in a constant up and down frenzy.
3) The idea that both fathers end up affirming their sons should come as a surprise to the audience. While Dad 1 may struggle at the end, when he does finally affirm his son, it should be genuine and heartfelt.
4) Alternative ending: Stop the sketch in Dad 1's final speech, right after the line, "You can't run back to first ...." This will leave the audience to wonder how Dad 1 handled the situation. Several possible scenarios could be suggested in the sermon.

RELATED SCRIPTURES
An ideal passage is Luke 15:11-32, where a forgiving and unconditional love is illustrated well by the father of the Prodigal Son. Philippians 1:9 speaks of a love that grows with increased knowledge. Consider also Matthew 5:45, where God sends blessings on both the righteous and unrighteous alike.

RELATED THEMES
This sketch is a sure bet for Father's Day. It also works for the topics of unconditional love, interpersonal relationships, competitiveness, human worth and the love of God.