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Texas Drifter: Christmas Story Two – Faith from One Manger

Marshall’s Law Dateline – Recent question by Editor Marshall of Texas Drifter: Of over eight hundred seventy writing exercises published, which is your personal favorite? Texas Drifter’s answer: “Faith from One Manger”, the first story written after my earthly father went home about fourteen years ago.

Texas Drifter note: Time to say it again. May God bless Conservatives with a safe, happy, joyful, holiday season with spiritual blessings during upcoming birthday celebration; perhaps a time to read aloud following simple play entitled “Faith from One Manger”.

Players:
- Simon
- Anna, a Prophetess
- Quirinius, Governor of Syria
- Census Taker
- Simon’s Helper
- Two Visitors

Introduction

(Simon praying in a temple)

Simon: Oh, Heavenly Father, forgive my selfishness. You have blessed me with the privilege of owning the finest olive gardens, the finest sheep herds, the finest inn, and the most profitable market in all of Judea. Yet my rapacious soul would trade all these earthly blessings for the honor of gazing upon your son the Messiah.

(Suddenly the still wind chimes introduce a saintly intruder)

Anna: You will not die until you have seen God’s anointed King.

Act I

(Quirinius on a small throne in his temple with figure kneeling before him)

Quirinius: Rise, my fool of a son (person rises). Caesar Augustus has ordered a census to be taken across the empire to make the collection of taxes more efficient. I am commanding you to carry out Caesar’s orders in Judea. If you can accomplish this task I shall reward your efforts by making you tax collector for Judea.

New Census Taker: I wish to thank you.

Quirinius (interrupts): I have no time for fool’s babble. Who is the most influential merchant in Judea?

Census Taker: Simon of Jerusalem. He has the finest olive gardens, the largest sheep herds, the finest inn, and the most profitable market.

Quirinius: I have heard of Simon. Tell me more.

Census Taker: Simon is a devout man who refuses to engage in money lending or take an interest in politics.

Quirinius: Destroy this Simon of Jerusalem.

Census Taker: Why? He is an honest merchant without enemies.

Quirinius: It is not Simon that could be a threat but the thieves who may use his wealth against us. Be gone, I have grown tired of you.

Act II

(Six months later – Quirinius on a small throne in his temple with Census Taker kneeling before him)

Quirinius: Rise, my fool of a son: Report to me about your progress on the census and Simon of Jerusalem.

Census Taker: The census taking process is on schedule. As for Simon of Jerusalem: I released locusts into his olive gardens. I destroyed his sheep herds with plagues. I burned his inn. I had bandits steal his wealth, and I have incited riots at his market so none will shop there. I am ready to return as tax collector.

Quirinius (erupts in to rage): You fool you have signed both our death warrants. I ordered you to destroy Simon, not his property. How can taxes be paid to Caesar with barren trees, dead sheep, ashes, empty coffers, or empty market places? Guards, let it be known that my fool son’s inheritance shall be sent to Caesar to reimburse Simon’s losses resulting from my fool son’s actions. Let it also be known that my son shall be banished from Syria for the remainder of my life.

Act III

(Simon and Simon’s Helper standing by three-sided shelter)

Simon (pointing): Isn’t it beautiful?

Simon’s Helper: Sir, how can a man who never cheated or punished the innocent, a man who has lost everything he earned his entire life, see beauty in THIS? Sir, every night, I shed tears of confusion not knowing why Heaven is punishing you.

Simon: My dearest lifelong friend, I see beauty in THIS because I see opportunity. As for Heaven punishing me, stewards of faith know the difference between punishment and preparation.

Simon’s Helper: Where’s the opportunity in having a stable without a bucket to bring water, or straw for feed?

Visitor (enters stage): I am looking for Simon of Jerusalem.

Simon: I am Simon of Jerusalem.

Visitor: Many decades ago before I was born, you loaned my father this bucket. His dying words were that I return your bucket with five donkeys loaded with straw.

Simon: I grieve for the loss of an honest man. I greatly accept the return of my bucket. Heaven only asks for tithes of ten percent; it would be a sin for me to accept straw from your donkeys. Now I must go to the temple to pray for your loss.

(Turning to helper) Use the bucket to bring us water.

Conclusion: (Simon returns to stable to find stable half full of animals and Simon’s Helper talking to another visitor)

Simon’s Helper: Great news, a few more customers and you shall have enough profits to buy new sheep.

Simon: I thought I said I could not accept straw from the visitor.

Simon’s Helper: The visitor insisted that the straw from five donkeys was a gift, not interest for a debt.

Simon: Who is here now?

Simon’s Helper: Some man less fortunate than us. The man cannot afford shelter for his wife who is about to give birth.

Simon: What were you telling this man who is less fortunate than us?

Simon’s Helper: I was telling him that Heaven was preparing him, not punishing him.

Simon (interrupts): And?

Simon’s Helper: I shall tell Joseph that it would be an honor for you to share your stable; with him, his wife, and their soon to be born child.

Simon: I must return to the Temple to seek Anna’s guidance.

(At the Temple)

Anna (to Simon): Eight days later during Mary’s purification offering at this Temple, you will speak, “Lord now I can die content for I have seen him as you promised.”

(Pause – Simon and Anna freeze as Simon’s Helper walks on stage)

Simon’s Helper: Anna’s prophecy came true, and Simon found peace as a contented man. Simon later restored that which had been lost to the “would- be” tax collector. I might add that his restoration work was made much easier by my loyalty. Let me tell you about my tireless efforts.

(Cast and all those involved in play break in while walking on stage singing – Reader’s favorite Christmas song.)

Writing exercises need questions.
Question, self-defense for some Christians, starts with renouncing both motives and deeds of self-appointed false prophets. Reference Abjuration Act of 1581. TRUE or FALSE

Question, all the smarts; technology; wealth; and personal power may make your life easier! Timeless truth: all the smarts, technology, wealth, and personal power will not save your soul. Why, judgment day is personal. TRUE or FALSE

Two observation clues – 1) Beware motives, words, and deeds of Obama; B. / H. Clinton, Biden, L. Lynch, J. Johnson, Marxist-fascist Progressive Democrats’ and allies; including enablers like corporate fascist Mussolini Republicans that Reader can list; plus vanity cults motivated by hate. 2) Doubt above observations about vanity cults? Remember, any good deeds done by cult leaders’ “true believers” will eventually be shamed into obscurity. Possible example, final eventual results of G. Beck’s vanities; unless Beck cares enough about his followers and “walks away”, before Beck shames his followers. Just asking. TRUE or FALSE

Bonus question, did you answer above questions honestly? TRUE or FALSE

Closing thought – Texas Drifter will answer recently asked question only one time. Taking the oath to “uphold, protect, and defend”; explains my being apolitical, as my loyalties are to U.S. Constitution no political party. How can I believe that D. Trump is right man at right time, and still consider myself a PSC (Patriot Security Conservative) to not be political? Simple, self-defense is spiritual not political objective.

Premise is that every candidate for President in 2016 owes “someone” something. Texas Drifter does not know to whom candidates other than D. Trump are indebted. Worst case scenario seems that H. Clinton owes contributors including foreign government that have contributed to Clinton’s Foundation. Seemingly, D. Trump is only indebted to his conscience?

Texas Drifter would rather trust one patriot’s conscience than other candidates’ debts to unknown special interests. Would only non-Christian doubters suggest that individual consciences cannot improve with life’s experiences? Is that not the point of Christmas Story Two – Faith from One Manger”?