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I WISH WE COULD TALK
MAIN POINT
Adam knew there was something significant missing from his life. God
agreed. "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for
him" (Genesis 2:18). Adam's longing to have a partner - a friend and soul mate - was
fulfilled when God presented the woman to him. Eve was so compatible, so perfect. Picture
the bliss as they walked alongside one another, naked and unashamed, sharing each other's
lives in the Garden of Eden, satisfied in a perfect love relationship with God and each
other. When they ate of the forbidden fruit, however, bliss turned to blame, barriers
arose between the two and their Lord, and sin would indelibly mar the marriage
relationship.
Today dreamy-eyed young people picture just such a relationship when they get married:
They long for intimacy, to know and be known, to have a partner with whom they can share
thoughts, fears, hopes, dreams, ideas, struggles. How quickly seeds sown in the Garden
take root in the heart, and too often sin becomes a deafening barrier. Here is a picture
of a husband and wife longing for Eden's bliss but unable to hear each other's cries. It
illustrates the longing we all have for deeply satisfying relationships - with a spouse,
but also with parents, siblings, others ... and with our Creator.
CHARACTERIZATION
Both the husband and the wife have a desperate longing to talk with one
another, to share their deepest dreams, doubts, fears, weaknesses. Their lines are
parallel and thus delivered with the same intensity, building to a crescendo of hope. But
in the end they return to their longing that was evident in the opening.
DIRECTOR'S NOTES
The lines are actually the characters' thoughts that the audience can
hear. There are two main ways to pull this off. One option is to voice-over the lines and
have the actors sell the thoughts with their actions. A second, more powerful option is to
allow players to deliver their lines turned away from one another; the audience will
understand that these thoughts are spoken for their benefit.
RELATED SCRIPTURES
This sketch is ideal when the focus is on marriage roles (e.g., Ephesians
5:21-33) or "true love" (e.g., 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a). It is also appropriate to
illustrate God's longing for a relationship with his wayward children (e.g., Luke
15:11-32), loving the Lord and others (e.g., Matthew 22:36-40), loving our neighbors
(e.g., Luke 10:29-37) and forgiving one another (e.g., Matthew 18:21-35).
RELATED THEMES
What keeps us from the deeply satisfying relationships with God and one
another that we longingly desire? Barriers include lack of love, selfishness, pride,
unforgiving hearts. While marriage is the central focus of this sketch, barriers to
reconciliation between God and others are also sub-themes.
