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RETURN TO THE HIGH DIVE
MAIN POINT
"Convenient" and
"easy" are no longer merely catch words of new product marketing; they have
become anchor points in the credo for American living. Jesus' call to choose the narrow
path, the hard way, the unnatural option sounds like so much poetry in an age of success
formulas and instant results. But the essence of faith-living is the willingness to break
against conventional wisdom and even "common sense" in order to experience the
personal growth and abundant living for which we were created. God's ways are often the
most unnatural and unconventional.
CHARACTERIZATION
Rob is well-meaning but sometimes given to pragmatism at the expense of
character. He wrestles with the tension between honestly desiring to do the right thing
and guarding his own self-interests. Because he's part owner of the business, he's
developed a fairly good game-face, but he knows that doesn't work on Mark. He's known him
too well for too long.
Mark is the kind of friend everyone would like to have. He's got true character, blending confidence and courage with gentleness and an easy-going kindness. He'll stick with people even when he's disappointed in them, not only urging them toward the right choices but willing to walk the hard road with them to get there.
Young Rob and Mark are early teenage versions of the older models, proportionate to their adult counterparts in an adolescent package.
DIRECTOR'S NOTES
1) Use dual sets of lighting if possible,
illuminating the active side of the stage and darkening the inactive. Keep all lights on
when the scenes are alternating lines. If no lighting is available, have the inactive side
freeze immediately when their lines finish.
2) Timing and intonation are very important in line delivery when shifting between scenes. At times, one side begins the line and the other must pick it up mid-sentence as if the entire line is being said by the same character. When single lines are repeated or alternated between scenes, shoot for the same intonation and pacing to help create the feel of both conversations blending into one.
3) The "diving board" area will appear more convincing if it can be at least slightly elevated above stage level. Even if it cannot, the boys' lines of sight should focus downward around them as if they are high above others. Blocking on the "diving board" should be limited, both to simulate the narrow area of the board and to accentuate Rob's fear of its height.
4) Young Mark and Rob can be older teens playing younger ones. Have them wear tank tops as opposed to being shirtless.
5) Gender is not important, but all characters should be the same gender.
RELATED SCRIPTURES
God regularly tested His people by asking
them to do things that didn't make sense at the time or felt extremely unnatural.
Abraham's call to follow God to unknown lands (Genesis 12:1-5) and his command to
sacrifice His son Isaac (Genesis 22:1-18) are outstanding examples. Moses' assignment of
grasping the tail of the snake (Exodus 4:2-5) and Jehoshaphat's command to march his army
into the teeth of ambush (2 Chronicles 20:1-30) also illustrate this. The picture of
sacrificial friendship correlates to the stories of David and Jonathan in 1 Samuel 20, and
David and Ittai in 2 Samuel 15:18-22 and 18:2-5. See also Jesus' classic description of
true friendship in John 15:12-15. Finally, Paul is quite clear in Philippians 3:4-14 that
when given a choice between doing things his way or God's, he is going to seek to do what
is right by pressing "on to the goal for the prize."
RELATED THEMES
The script matches well with themes of
integrity, honesty, humility, accountability, and confrontation/conflict resolution. You
might use it in a setting that emphasizes authentic relationships or to introduce
involvement in small groups or accountability relationships.
RELATED SERMON
See "Be a Spoon" in HOMILETICS,
March-April, 1998. To order call 1 800 992-2144.
