Self Help

by Sharon-Kathleen Corner

Person is sitting right in the middle of the stage, middle of the stage, meditating.  Sits there for a few minutes.   Opens eyes, looks at watch, takes a deep breath, closes eyes, does it again.  Few seconds later, opens eyes, squirms, looks at watch again, stretches, closes eyes again.  Starts dancing and moving head and arms to imaginary to the beat.  Eyes POP open.

A:  Oh man.  Come on.  FOCUS.  (Looks at watch again) Only two more hours to go.

Takes a deep cleansing breath.  Brings arms down from the ceiling as if cleansing the air around, back into meditative state.  Soon..

A: OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM.   OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM.

B:  (Comes walking by and stops and watches A, then bursts out laughing)

A:  (Opens eyes)

B:  What are you doing?

A:  Mediating.

B:  Mediating?
A:   Yeah, relaxing, mediating.  I am focusing on my inner self.  I am improving on me.

B:  Oh…well, okay then.  Do you mind if I do some reading over there?

A:  Read? 

B:  Yeah, I am going to improve myself, so I need to do some reading.

A: Oh, you got a self help book?  Sure, go ahead.  (she waves B off, and then closes her eyes.)

B goes over to the side, pulls out a blanket, flips it out and bible, lays on belly, starts reading. 

A:  (after a few moments opens one eye, then looks over and sees B sitting and reading)  you should try meditating, it is very relaxing.

B:  (Looks over, smiles)  That’s great. (goes back to reading)

A closes eyes again, squirms.  Tries breathing quick in and out like labor breathing.   B slowly turns head and looks over, shakes head and then goes back to reading.  A stops the breathing, takes hands and puts them in prayer position over head, then sucking in a deep breath, brings them down in front of chest, breaths out, pushes them to the sides, sucks in bringing hands back to prayer position in front of chest, holds breath, loudly breaths out while pushes hands again, then brings them back in again.  Then looks over at B. 

A:  Yup, mediation is great for the soul!

B doesn’t even acknowledge, wrapped up in reading.  A lets out a deep sigh, closes eyes and then starts massaging temples and then starts rubbing cheeks, then starts massively rubbing cheeks comically and then starts “OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMing” first quietly and then gets loud.

B:  (First slowly turns and watches)  What ARE you doing?

A: (Startled)  oh!  Um.  Uh.   Meditating.  Feeding my essence. 

B:  Well, do you need to be sound loud about it?

A:  Well, SORRY!  (Puts fingers in Yoga fingers on knees, shifts a bit and closes eyes, B watches for a few seconds and goes back to reading.  A takes a few really fast quick breaths and almost falls over, as if dizzy, or faint.  Holds hands in front, as if steadying self.  Puts hands back on legs.  A does this for a few seconds, then sort of sneaks a look a watch, puts hand to the face and looks heaven ward.  Looks over to B)  What self help book are you reading?

B:  huh?

A:  What are you reading?

B:  Oh, this?

A:  Yeah, what is it?   Stress Management?  Motivational?  Power of Rocks, Self Hypnosis?  New Age?

B:    Actually, it’s the bible.

A:  The what?

B:  The bible.

A:  Why in the world are you reading that?

B:  I am feeding my spirit.

A:  You’re what?

B:  (Sits up)  I am feeding my spirit.  Refreshing my soul.   Breathing in the word of God.

A:  You are reading.

B:  Yes, and the bible is the meat and potatoes of my life.

A:  Are there recipes in that book?

B:  (slowly shakes head, looks down at ground then back at A)  No, Only Gods word. 

A:  I don’t get it.

B:  God’s Word is the food I need to feed my soul.   It cleans my mind, it fills my heart, it lifts my spirit.

A:  No, no, no.  That doesn’t make sense.  See, when I do my mediation, I sit here, and I think of the ocean, and of peaceful places and of relaxing worlds and I take a deep breath and it fills my heart with love.

B:  Hm.  Okay.  Well, if that works for you, that works.  But, I when I read “Matthew 7:7-11 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”  I feel refreshed, and strong, I feel like I can do all things through Christ who has strengthens me.

A:  From reading that, you feel better?

B:  Yup.

A:  How in the world does that make you feel better?

B:  Because it says that God is with me.  It says when I pray, God hears my prayers and He will answer my prayers.   And he will take care of me, feed me, be there for me.  That feeds my soul, I can breathe knowing that.  (Takes a deep breath) A deep cleansing breath.

A;   Well, yoga helps me breathe.

B:  Yeah, I saw that.  You were taking quite a few breaths there.  And what did all those big breaths get you?  Looks like you almost hyper-ventilated.

A:  Well, that aside. 

B:  Reading the bible cleanses you inside and out.

A:  How does that work?
B:  Once you have accepted Christ as your personal Savior, you are cleansed from sin, and you radiate Gods love, you are new again.

A:  Is that why you are always so happy and cheerful?

B:  Yup.  I am full of the love of Jesus Christ, and because He died for my sins, I am CLEAN!  He washed my clean of everything.  (Takes in a BIG DEEP BREATH)  AH, breath in that smell of Heaven.

A:  Heaven?
B:  Yup, because I have accepted Christ, I am going to heaven when I die. 

A:  And it tells you that in your book?
B:  You got it.  John 3:16.  "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  I BELIEVE, so I am HEAVEN bound.

A:  I want to go to Heaven. (On knees, goes over to B)  Let me see that.

B:  All you need to do, Accept that you are Sinner, Know that Jesus is Lord, accept Him as your personal Savior, turn away from sin, and Accept Jesus Christ into your heart. 

A:  Where is that in here?

B:  Romans, It’s called the road to Romans, or the Road to Salvation.  Here, I have it marked in my bible.  (Flips to it) read the part that is highlighted in pink. (if it is boys, pick a different color!)

A:  Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the work of Christ.  Romans 10: 17 .    (reads it twice, then takes a very deep breath)  Oh, what was that, it felt good.

B:  (grins)  I think you took your first breath of heaven.  Come on.  Let’s keep reading.

The End.