DON’T INTERRUPT ME LORD, I’M PRAYING

A 2 person skit reflecting on the Lord’s Prayer
By Clyde Lee Herring
Adapted from Bread magazine, Nazarene Publishing House.

Our Father who art in Heaven….

Yes

Don’t interrupt me.  I’m praying.

But you called me!

Called you?  I didn’t call you.  I’m praying. ‘ Our Father who art in Heaven……’

There, you did it again.

Did what?

Called me.  You said ‘Our Father who art in Heaven’.  Here I am…. What’s on your mind?

But I didn’t mean anything by it.  I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day.  I always say the Lord’s Prayer.  It makes me feel good, sort of like getting a job done.

All right, go on.

‘Hallowed be thy name…’

Hold it! What do you mean by that?

By what?

By ‘Hallowed be they name?’

It means…. It means….Good grief.  I don’t know what it means.  How should I know?  It’s just part of the prayer….. By the way, what does it mean?

It means honoured, holy, wonderful

Ah! That makes sense.  I never thought about what ‘hallowed’ meant before. ....’Thy kingdom come, they will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.’

Do you really mean that?

Of course, why not?

What are you doing to do about it?

Do?  Nothing I suppose.  I just think it would be rather good if you got control of everything down here as you have up there.

Have I got control of you?

Well, I go to church!

That isn’t  what I asked you.  What about your bad temper?  You’ve really got a problem there you know.  Then there’s the way you spend your money…..all on yourself; and what about the kind of  books you read?

Stop picking on me!  I’m just as good as some of the rest of those hypocrites down at the church!

Excuse me.  I thought you were praying for my will to be done.  If that is to happen it will have to start with the ones who are praying for it.  Like you, for example.

Oh, all right.  I guess I do have some hang-ups now that you mention it.  I could probably name some others.
 
So could I.

I haven’t thought about it very much until now, but I really would like to cut out some of those things.  I would like to, you know, be really free.

Good!  Now we’re getting somewhere.  We’ll work together, you and I.  Some victories can truly be won.  I’m proud of you.

Look, Lord, I need to finish up here.  This is taking a lot longer than it usually does…. ‘Give us this day our daily bread.’

You need to cut out the bread.  You’re overweight as it is.

Hey, wait a minute!  What is this?  ‘Criticise Me Day?’  Here I was, doing my religious duty, and all of a sudden you break in and remind me of all my hang-ups.

Praying is a dangerous thing.  You could wind up changed you know!  That’s what I’m trying to get across to you.  You called me and here I am.  It’s too late to stop now.   Keep on praying.  I’m interested in the next part of your prayer……. (pause) Well go on.

I’m scared to.

Scared?  Of what?

I know what you’ll say.

Try me and see

‘Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors.’

What about Bill?

See!  I knew it!  I knew you would bring him up!  Why, Lord.  He’s told lies about me, cheated me out of some money.  He never paid back that debt he owes me.  I’ve sworn to get even with him!

But your prayer?  What about your prayer?

I didn’t mean it

Well, at least you’re honest, but it’s not much fun carrying that load of bitterness around inside, is it?

No, but I’ll feel better as soon as I get even.  Boy, have I got some plans for old Bill!  He’ll wish he never did me any harm.

You won’t feel any better.  You’ll feel worse.  Revenge isn’t sweet.  Think of how unhappy you already are; but I can change all that.

You can?  How?

Forgive Bill.  Then I’ll forgive you.  Then the hate and sin will be Bill’s problems and not yours.  You may lose the money, but you will have settled your heart.

But, Lord, I can’t forgive Bill.

Then I can’t forgive you.

Oh, you’re right.  You always are; and more than I want revenge on Bill, I want to be right with you……(pause..sigh).  All right, all right.  I forgive him.  Help him to find the right road in life.  Lord, he’s bound to be awfully miserable now that I think about it.  Anybody who goes round doing the things he does to others has to be mixed up inside.  Someway, somehow show him the right way.

There now!  Wonderful!  How do you feel?

Hmmm.  Well, not bad.  Not bad at all.  In fact I feel quite tremendous!  You know, I don’t think I’ll have to go to bed tense tonight for the first time since I can remember.  Maybe I won’t be so tired from now on because I’m not getting enough rest.

You’re not through with your prayer.  Go on.

Oh, all right.  ‘And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’

Good! Good!  I’ll do just that.  Just don’t put yourself in a place where you can be tempted.

What do you mean?

Change some of your friendships.  Some of your so-called friends are beginning to get to you.  They’ll have you completely involved in wrong things before long.  Don’t be fooled.  They advertise that they’re having fun, but for you it would be ruin.  Don’t use me for an escape hatch.

I don’t understand

Yes you do.  You’ve done it a lot of times.  You get caught in a bad situation.  You get into trouble and then you come running to me.  ‘Lord help me out of this mess and I promise you I’ll never do it again.’  You remember some of those bargains you tried to make with me?

Yes, and I’m ashamed, Lord, I really am.

Which bargain are you remembering?

Well, when the woman next door saw me coming out of the local pub.  I’d told my mother I was going to the shop.  I remember telling you ‘O God, don’t let her tell my mother where I’ve been.  I promise I’ll be in church every Sunday.’

She didn’t tell your mother, but you didn’t keep your promise, did you?

I’m sorry Lord, I really am.  Up until now I thought that just praying was enough.  I didn’t expect you to answer like this.

Go ahead and finish your prayer.

‘For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever, Amen’

Do you know what would bring me glory?  What would really make me happy?

No, but I’d like to know.  I want now to please you.  Now I can see how good it would be to be a real follower of you.

You just answered the question.

I did?

Yes.  The thing that would bring me glory is to have people like you truly love and follow me; and I see tat happening between us.  Now that some of these old sins are exposed and out of the way, well there’s no telling what we can do together.

Lord, let’s see what we can make of me, ok?

Yes, let’s see.