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The Talent Critic Written By Sherry Brandon (The setting is a desk with a computer and  2 chairs ) JULIE: Thanks for letting me use your printer to print out this newsletter. Now I just have to make the copies for the Sunday School class this weekend. I hope they like it. BRIAN: You know they will. Your stuff is always good. God really worked overtime on your ability to write articles and motivate people. You’ve really got some talent. JULIE: I just do it because I enjoy it…just like I enjoy my job at the newspaper downtown. Speaking of jobs….how’s your “web page entrepreneurship” coming along? Any takers? BRIAN: No, not yet. JULIE: Well you’ve advertised out on the Internet that you make web pages for people, right? Do you think you advertised in all of the right spots? BRIAN: Yeah…everywhere I could find. Aw…it’s probably a dumb idea anyway. I shouldn’t waste my time. JULIE: But you’re really good at that stuff. I bet there’s lots of interested people out there. You just have to find them. BRIAN: It’s just as well. I just haven’t been motivated to do anything lately. JULIE: Yeah, I’ve noticed. You’ve really seemed down in the dumps lately. What’s the matter? BRIAN: Nothin’ really….it’s dumb. JULIE: No it’s not, especially if it has you this gloomy. What is it? (Brian shrugs) You know you can talk to me. Please don’t shut me out. BRIAN: Well, it’s just that everyone seems to have a “place” for them at church…a ministry. JULIE: You’re not happy in our Sunday School? BRIAN: No it’s not that. I like everybody and we do stuff and have lots of fun and all…but I know there’s more to living for God than just “hangin’ out”. Everyone else seems to have something they actually DO for the Lord—a “talent” they can use. You know, like singing or something. JULIE: (surprised) Are you thinking of auditioning for choir? BRIAN: What? No way! I’d no sooner just clear my throat before they’d be escorting me outta the building before I hurt somebody with my “caterwauling”. No, I was just using that as an example. Like you, for instance. You’re really good at getting together the newsletter and writing articles that motivate people and stuff. And Marie does up a really mean bulletin board. Chris does a great job at making up the calendar. Mike organizes the sports events…and usually makes all the scores, too when you think about it. I can’t do any of that stuff. JULIE: Have you thought about asking Mike or Marie or Chris if they could use any help? BRIAN: Nah…I’m not good at any of those things. I’d probably end up stickin’ Christmas on October 31st if I tried to help Chris with the calendar, or glue my fingers together if I came up here to help Marie. And as for sports….remember the last time I volunteered to be the goalie for indoor hockey? JULIE: Oh yeah…that night when we went out to eat you ordered an extra rare steak—and then put it on your black eye. BRIAN: Yep. JULIE: Well, you know you’re always welcomed to help me out with the newsletter. BRIAN: I don’t think that’s a good idea either. Last time I helped my Grandmother write out her grocery list, she asked me to use a spell-checker next time. JULIE: Well, you know you could still help out…you love to go to movies. I could use a movie critic! BRIAN: There aren’t any movies playing right now that I would even consider recommending anyone we know go and see, especially people at the church! JULIE: You’re a critic all right, you’re a talent critic! BRIAN: I appreciate your offer, but I would really like to find something I can do for the Lord that’s all my own, rather than just helping someone else’s ministry. I guess that sounds really lame, huh? JULIE: Not at all! I totally understand. But there’s plenty of stuff out there you can do for God, like…(struggles) BRIAN: Yes? JULIE: Well, like…..what about…..animals! Remember, you used to help your brother on his farm? You liked working with the animals! BRIAN: (with enthusiastic sarcasm) All right….it’s “Goats for God”! JULIE: I guess we really don’t have that kind of need around here. Well, you used to play the trombone, didn’t you? BRIAN: Yeah, before I got kicked out of the school band for almost blowing out the teacher’s eardrums. As it was, I underestimated the “slide” on the new trombone models and hit the principal in the head with it during the homecoming parade. (mimicks the trombone slide) JULIE: Oh. Well, would you be interested in taking up another instrument? BRIAN: Nah…besides I think I’m tone deaf. JULIE: Oh, I doubt that. BRIAN: What? (holds his hand to his ear as if trying to hear; both laugh) You know, I do really like going on trips where we present the gospel to others. I kinda like the “presentation” part, I guess. I like thinking of ways to present the gospel to others—witnessing. That’s what it’s all about, after all—winning the world for Christ. Listen to me—like I’m going to take on the world. JULIE: Well, you don’t have to have your ministry actually in our church, you can witness elsewhere, too. Winning the world starts with one person at a time. Don’t you have a lot of buddies online that you email on the computer? BRIAN: Yeah….(thinking) HEY, wait a minute! That’s it!! (spins around to his PC) JULIE: What is? BRIAN: My web pages! Instead of making web pages to sell to people, I could make web pages to WITNESS to people! JULIE: Brian, that’s a great idea! BRIAN: I could circulate some really good material out on the net, instead of some of the garbage you see out there nowadays. This will be something worth surfin’ the net for—readin’ about God! (typing) See, I’ve got some new really cool Bible software I can use and some great pictures! JULIE: I can’t think of a better ministry for you, Brian. You’ll be doing what you really enjoy and using it for God’s glory. BRIAN: (turning back to her) Thanks Julie! JULIE: I didn’t do anything. This is your baby! BRIAN: But you helped me brainstorm. And you also helped me realize that God doesn’t always give us talents that are obvious. Sometimes we have to look for that one special talent He gives us that’s all our own…our very own ministry. We’re all different…we’re all special! JULIE: I think you’re very special, Brian. (back to the scripts page)