It's Only By God's Grace
An
old man pushes a shopping cart on to the stage and shuffles his way to
the center where the audience can all see him. In it are cans and
bottles, some cardboard and a beat up guitar. He stops there and quickly
prepares a bed for himself using cardboard. Leaning to rest on the cart
for a moment, he seems to fall asleep that way. The lights grow dim.
The sound of wind fills the air. After a few seconds of darkness, a
spotlight suddenly shines on him and a booming voice from the darkness
speaks.
voice - Old man. Old man wake up.
The man awakens startled. Looks around quickly for the source of the voice.
old man - Hello. Hello. Who's there?
voice -
It is me. You're spirit. You're soul. Your inner-voice. The innocent
and vulnerable you. Listen to me old man. Tonight I'm taking you home.
You will fall asleep and awaken no more. Are you ready for that? Are you
ready to meet up with me again?
old man - What?
short pause
short pause
The man appears frightened and huddles against his cart. He is intensely in thought.
old man - Yes. Yes! I am ready.
voice - What happened to your coat?
old man - Some angry punks took it from me when I fell asleep last night. I tried to fight them off but they won.
A jacket is thrown onto the stage and the man picks it up and puts it on.
voice - Good. It's judgement time then. Let's do a quick review of your life. Hmm.
short pause
voice - Hmm. It
says your mother taught you to be kind and compassionate but somewhere
down the road you lost that and turned out to be bitter and
self-absorbed. What happened to change you?
old man
- It's 'cause I lost Jenny and the kids. I was liquor sick in the
morning and angry most the time. Then I lost my car and my job. I don't
blame her for leaving me. The booze got a hold of me real good and I
spent ten or fifteen years drinking and drugging on the streets. I ended
up in jail a couple of times and got myself a record. I really missed
the good old days. I'd get out eventually but it got that I was so
scared of everyone on the outside too that even when I stopped drinking
long time ago now my mind is still messed up. I did stop drinkin'
though. I swear. Ten or fifteen years ago. The kids in jail would beat
me up for my sugar packets. I cried for Jenny lots of times. I called
her a few years ago but the phone cut out.
voice - Yes I see that.
short pause
voice -
I noticed you were frequently beaten by the other kids in your early
school years. You also caused a lot of trouble with your teachers and
principals because you had difficulty conforming to structure. Do you
think any of that may have had an effect on your ultimate fate, why
you're here with me in the park tonight?
old man - Heck no, none of that mattered after I grew up. I remember it all though and I remember thinking to myself that someday I'll show the whole batch of 'em. They'll be sorry for what they did someday. They won't be messing with me no more I'll tell ya'.
old man - Heck no, none of that mattered after I grew up. I remember it all though and I remember thinking to myself that someday I'll show the whole batch of 'em. They'll be sorry for what they did someday. They won't be messing with me no more I'll tell ya'.
short pause
voice - Let me think about this for a moment.
The
spotlight dims and the lights come back on. The old man reveals that he
is actually an actor by removing his beard and hat and a younger man
emerges. He takes the guitar out of the cart and begins to sing.
young man - Looks like that time of year has come again so I stopped to help a man.
Instead of just walking by I put a coin in his cup, reached out to shake his hand.
He lifted his head, his eyes unto mine and tried to make a smile.
He said "God bless you sir. happy holidays. Please won't you stay a while.
He said "God bless you sir. happy holidays. Please won't you stay a while.
I don't know about you but it's my favourite time of year.
When Christmas is just around the corner and the folks all in good cheer."
A block away I thought of a past day when I found myself alone.
Out on the streets trying to make my ends meet but cold right to the bone.
When I turned back to see if my memory was still out there on his own.
I walked up to him and tried to give him my gin he said "I don't do that no more."
"I stopped drinking about twenty years ago.
When my world was going crazy and I had nothing left to show."
Later that night when all were asleep I went down to pour a drink.
I stopped on my way, went back through today and then I had to think.
About the man I met tonight and how he was right but then what could I say.
I didn't make it this far by just giving it away, you know I work real hard today.
I gave him all I could and my time I have to keep.
'Cause nothing left to spare no more with my bills, my family.
'Twas two days before Christmas when I came upon the man.
He must have lost his coat somewhere, had a newspaper and a cast on his right hand.
I had to rush by but caught the gaze in his eyes, I knew it was despair.
But there's still shopping to do, the stores are aglow, the season's in the air.
Why can't I stop to help him, get him away from the cold.
Show him some understanding maybe even help him find a home.
The very next day while stopped at the lights I spotted him lying in the park.
He seemed lost in a daze even in the sun's rays, man his world must be so dark.
When they started honking at me, I bolted away, I was running from the sight.
I had been reflecting on me and the way that I've become. You know the man is really right.
I could lose it all tomorrow and fall right on my face.
Tumble back into the life that I once knew. It's only by God's grace.
note:
This Christmas story and song is dedicated to Johnny (1964-2002 Winnipeg)
and Billy (1965 - 1999 Vancouver)