I went to church

last Thursday night. There was some singing, preaching, and a little praying.

Now here is

the flabbergaster: it was at Starr's Mill High School. It was an approved

school activity. But please don't call the ACLU because it was a dramatic

production and every song and prayer was scripted.

Under the direction

of David Spearman, Starr's Mill Advanced Drama Class presented "The

Diviners," written by Jim Leonard, Jr., Nov. 15 and 17. In a message

from the director, Mr. Spearman noted, " 'The Diviners' is such a

wonderful script. It reminds us all of the important things in life and

where our priorities should lie."

He was right

on target. In fact, Mr. Spearman did a pretty good job at preaching to

the church and lifting up the true meaning of ministry.

The play has

room for many nuances of interpretation. The plot: a backslidden preacher

(Ryan McConnell) moves into a farming community and is taken as a hired

hand into the home of a man (Eric Joshua Baker) and his son (Craig De

Lorenza) and daughter (Carlee Baker). The son, called Buddy, had a bad

case of hydrophobia having almost drowned with his mother who did drown

several years before the time of the play. Since, he had taken no baths

and had a severe case of the itch.

The backslidden

preacher wanted nothing to do with starting a badly needed church in the

community, but he was interested in helping pathetic Buddy overcome his

frightening fear of water (even the rain). Finally, the preacher had persuaded

Buddy to go to a stream of water for a badly need bath. The word leaked

out, however, that the preacher was going to baptize Buddy. The gossip

and rumor mill went into overtime.

A church crowd

arrived at the water after the preacher and Buddy were already in the

water (half-dressed) bathing. The church crowd was singing "Shall

We Gather At the River." The church folks thought something religious

was taking place. But, it was simply the preacher giving Buddy a bath.

In attempting

to persuade the church crowd to go away and cease their singing, the preacher

was distracted. Buddy lost his footing. Since the preacher couldn't walk

on water, much less swim, Buddy drowned to death.

The final scene,

a creative touch by Spearman, shows the preacher holding Buddy in the

style of Michelangelo's work known as The Pieta. (Please forgive me, David,

if I have missed portions of the plot).

So, what did

this powerful, poignant play of pathos say to me? Here we go again! Here

is some burned-out preacher trying to care for others and his chief distraction

is the church. Had the church folks not distracted the preacher, he would

have been able to give his full attention to Buddy and Buddy would not

have drowned.

Religious folks

want to act religiously. Jesus Christ wants us to act compassionately.

Religious folks think about their needs. Jesus Christ wants us to think

about the needs of others. Religious folks want the preacher to tickle

their ears. Jesus Christ wants the preacher to trouble their ears.

Basically,

I am sick and tired of the religious types. They are phony baloney. They

care little about others. Truth: many a backslidden preacher has had more

compassion than the backslappers have on any given Sunday morning.

Thank you,

Starr's Mill Advanced Drama Class. You preached a great sermon.

The Rev. Dr. John Hatcher is pastor

of River's Edge

Community Church in Fayetteville.

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