How do you believe?

How do you believe?

A simple one man sketch performed with the use of hats to show when each person is talking. There are only two characters.

What do you believe?

Funny you should ask that. I’ve been thinking about it and I’ve written it down.

Brilliant.

Ok, this is that I believe.

I believe in the one living and true God, creator, preserver and ruler of all things, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Him alone I worship, and in him I put our trust.

I believe that God, in his infinite love for people, gave his eternal Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who became human, lived on earth in perfect love and obedience, died upon the cross for our sins, rose again from the dead and lives for evermore, saviour, judge and king.

Oh! That’s err

I’ve not finished yet

Sorry

I believe that, by the Holy Spirit, I receive through faith the forgiveness of sins, newness of life as children of God and strength to do his will.

I believe in the one holy, catholic – although I’m not a catholic -, apostolic church, wherein by the same Spirit, I am, with my brothers and sisters in Christ, made one Body of Christ to worship God and serve him and all people in his kingdom of love.

In the fullness of time God will renew and gather in one all things in Christ.

(Looks expectantly)

(Looks blank - Maybe side glance at audience)

(Looks even more expectantly)

(Looks confused and nervous)

(Looks extremely expectant)

(Smiles)

)Smiles back)

When I learn something I like to see how it’s done.

(Sighs with relief) That’s a relief, all I know is since I believed in Jesus my life has changed and I have peace and people who care around me. Come with me. I’ll show you.

End

It’s good to know what you believe – vital to know what you believe. It’s just as vital to be able to show people as well.

Let’s Pray

Thank you Jesus that you came and showed us what to believe and taught us how to behave – to love one another. Lord, we come before pledge to learn about you through the Word, to grow in you through our worship, and to know you better through our prayers.

Holy Spirit we invite you in. Please lead us deeper into God.

Amen

Dancing Free

Hugh loved to dance. He was so free when he danced. He danced all day. For Hugh, life was one long dance. He loved being free, free to move his arms, free to leap, free to move slowly, free to move gracefully, free to move fast and wild. To Hugh, it just felt right. For Hugh, or to give him his full name, Hugh Manity, dancing was freedom itself. Oh how Hugh Manity loved to be free.

One day, during one of his favourite dance moves involving a wild flailing of the arms whilst leaping high into the air, Flesh approached him quietly. Flesh knew Hugh Manity very well. He had known him all his life and knew all his strengths and weaknesses.

“You look happy” He said. Hugh nodded and smiled and carried on flailing and leaping.

“Are you happy because you are free?” asked Flesh. Hugh nodded again and tried a leap with a twist in it.

“It’s good being free isn’t it?” said Flesh. Hugh nodded but a small frown had entered his forehead. He wanted to dance and was being distracted. Flesh noticed the frown.

“I’m annoying you aren’t I? Is it because I am interrupting you” He suggested. “I better stop interrupting you hadn’t I?” There was a pause.

“It’s rude to ignore people you know” Flesh turned and looked away. At this comment Hugh stopped dancing. He didn’t want to be rude. Hugh, stood with his hands on his hips and looked at Flesh. Flesh smiled and said “Thank you”.  

Hugh returned to his dance, but chose a more graceful move this time. Flesh watched. “You know”, observed Flesh “I know someone who does that movement much better.”

Hugh tried harder and leaped higher and longer and waved his arms more wildly. “Oooh, I like that move.” Flesh said thoughtfully “I suppose being jealous of your betters can drive you to that, but you’ll never be as good as them.”

Hugh slowed down feeling disheartened. Flesh stepped closer to Hugh and puts his hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry though” he says “Someone will love you for your dancing… probably…maybe… who knows?”

Hugh’s dance slowed to a stop. His shoulders slumped and he looked down at his feet. Hugh Manity wanted to be loved. How could he be free if he wasn’t loved?

“Don’t be sad, I have an idea,” Flesh tried to encourage him and Hugh looked up hopefully “Let’s try some things that can improve your dancing. Things to make you feel better. Things to help you get your freedom back. You want to be free again don’t you?”

Hugh nodded earnestly. He wanted to be free.  

Flesh handed over a hat. Hugh put it on. “This is a lucky hat,” said Flesh proudly “If you wear it you will come into great wealth, possibly. It’s worth a gamble isn’t it? Give it a try.” It was quite a heavy hat. It weighed him down a bit but it would be worth it for the money.

“The thing is wealth is great, it’s cool, and it sets you free.” Flesh advised. Hugh liked the idea of looking cool. He put it on and tilted the hat slightly to one side to look even cooler.

“Now try on these boots” Flesh handed over a large pair of boots. Hugh looked at them doubtfully. “Go on, try them. They will make you look beautiful when you dance. You want to be loved, don’t you? And to be loved you have to look beautiful. These boots are perfect for you. If you know you are beautiful you will be loved and then you can be free.”

Hugh wanted to be free, and he knew he had to be beautiful. He put them on and tried to move but they were cumbersome and he started to get frustrated at how they restricted his movement, his freedom.

As Hugh started to lose his patience Flesh gave him some gloves. “Now these are brilliant” he said “There are things out there you will want to touch, things that are important to set you free, but these things can make you feel bad when you touch them. If you wear these gloves you can’t feel bad because you aren’t actually touching it and you can be free in the important things you shouldn’t really touch – makes sense really!”

It didn’t make sense to Hugh but he didn’t like feeling so restricted and if there are things out there that can make him feel free again, even if they could make him feel bad, then he had better wear the gloves.

Hugh put them on. These too were heavy, but he didn’t care, he wondered what things he could touch with them.

“You look amazing, You have so many things that can set you free, you must be feeling so free!” urges Flesh.

Hugh wondered why he didn’t feel free when he had a hat to give him wealth, boots to make him beautiful and gloves to stop him feeling bad. He tried harder to dance but the hat, boots and gloves stopped him moving freely.

“Are you OK? Flesh asked.

Hugh put his thumbs up. He did not want to admit he couldn’t dance. He did not want to admit he was failing. He did not want to admit he didn’t feel free when he had so much. He started to think that maybe he should try something else.

“I have something else for you.”Said Flesh, “Something that will help you regain some of your old freedom” Flesh knew Hugh very well. He knew how he was feeling and wanted to help. Flesh gave Hugh a bottle to drink from. “This can also ease some of the pain you’re feeling from not being able to dance anymore.”

The words ‘not being able to dance anymore’ hit Hugh hard. He realised at that moment he couldn’t dance anymore. It hurt. He took a swig of the drink. He took another, then another, then he slumped to the ground. The pain was awful. He drank again and laid down and curled up in a ball, in pain. He wanted to be saved from this pain. He desperately wanted to dance. He desperately wanted to be free.

At this moment his heart reached out and he cried for help and a man walked up to Hugh. The mans’ name was Spirit.

“Hello” said Spirit. Hugh, still on the floor, looked up, waved and had another swig of the drink. Hugh hoped he can help.

Spirit turned to Flesh, “I heard his cry. Why is he in pain and not dancing in freedom?” He asked.

Flesh knew Spirit. He had met him before. “Hello Spirit” He said  

Flesh knew Spirit would come when he heard the cry, although he hoped he wouldn’t as he wanted to do the helping. Spirit always came when he heard Hugh Manity call for help.

That’s Hugh Manity that is.” Said Flesh, awkwardly.

“I know who it is” Said Spirit. “Why is he not free?”

“He tried to be free.” Flesh replied.

“He needs help” said Spirit.

“I am helping him to be free. He is nearly there. I’ve got so many things that help. He doesn’t need your help”

“Did you give him these things?”

“I did. They will help him”

“Oh Flesh” Said Spirit both angry and sad at the same time.

“I’d like to see you try” Said Flesh in a sudden flash of temper. He didn’t like Spirit interfering.

Spirit knelt down beside Hugh Manity. “Hello Hugh” he said “I know who loves you. You are loved.”

Hugh opened his eyes. “Good he can hear me” thought Spirit.

“Do you remember when you danced free?” asked Spirit quietly.

Hugh nodded. “You didn’t have all these things then. Give them up”

Hugh put the bottle down and took off the gloves. He waved at Spirit who smiled back at him.

Flesh was at boiling point. “How is he going to be free if he gives all these things up?” he shouted.

Flesh was very angry and also absolutely dumbfounded at the suggestion of giving things up. “Don’t do it” he cried out. He glared at Spirit “You know Hugh Manity needs all these things to be free.”

Spirit gave Flesh a look. The type of look that makes Flesh crawl - and he did.

He turned back to Hugh and said “You don’t need these things to be loved. You don’t need them to be free.”

Hugh took his hands away from the bottle. Hugh had his gloves off already and Spirit asked “Why have you got these huge boots on?”

  

Flesh was whimpering in the corner “They make him look beautiful” Hugh smiled. He loved looking beautiful.

The One who loves you, did so before you had boots. Hugh Manity heard this and believed it. He removed the boots and wiggled his feet and toes. It felt good. 

“I suppose he has to the hat off as well” snarled Flesh.

“You suppose right” smiled Spirit.

“Where is the hope going to come from now? Without the lucky hat he can’t have wealth, he can’t have anything good” Flesh was seeing red now.

“Oh Flesh you are so wrong.” Said Spirit “Hugh Manity take off all that is holding you back.”

Hugh obeyed. He knew it was right and he gave up all that Flesh had given him. Spirit reached out helped Hugh Manity to stand.

Flesh is now defeated.

Spirit explained to Hugh Manity “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit let us also be guided by the Spirit.

Spirit pauses and declares with strength and love “And I will say this …When the Son sets you free you will be free indeed.”

Hugh Manity heard and believed and danced again and is free.

My little boy is bigger than me

My little boy is bigger than me.

His voice is deeper too.

But I still clean up after him

And wipe the seat of the loo.

My little boy is bigger than me

He’s more fit and he’s stronger.

But I still fetch and carry for him

I promise not much longer.

My little boy is bigger than me

He seems to have more brain.

He must have got them from his dad

Cos I want them back again.

My little boy is bigger than me.

He even has more hair.

But I still have to hug him

When he needs to know who cares.

My little boy is bigger than me.

I’ve given him all that I can.

I was happy that I did so,

Cos now he’s become a man.

The Girl of my Dreams

I know the exact time that

our eyes first met.

From that moment you were in my heart.

But I had to ignore that raging doubt,

that, some day, we would have to part.

I’d do anything for you.

You know I would.

I’d give my heart, my life, my money.

I’ve done it all once, and I’d do it again,

to hear you laugh at one of my funnies.

This new man that you’ve met.

He’s half my age.

He’s got muscles where I’ve got fat.

He’s kind, polite and he treats you well.

I don’t like him. Nor does the cat.

Now you want to marry

this perfect man.

When you told me your face did shine.

It took me back to that very first day,

when your eyes first met mine.

Now I look at you,

With him in church

And my eyes, they begin to water.

You make a good couple, you really do,

and you’re a wonderful, wonderful daughter.

Life is like a supermarket trolley

Life is like a supermarket trolley: no matter how you push it, it never goes in the right direction. Well, that was Brian and Bob’s experience as wandered through the supermarket, struggling to control their unruly trolleys. (You know what it’s like). They both saw lots of things they wanted but, just how do you deal with so much choice? And choose you must, because sooner or later, there is the checkout.

Brian and Bob were happy enough wandering through the store. They both saw lots of things they liked but they both found it was a struggle controlling their trollies.

“Oooh that looks interesting” said Brian as he reached up to put some Wicked Rice into his trolley. “I’ll give that a try”. Bob wasn’t so sure. He walked on and it was at this point they parted company, sometimes trollies just drift apart.

As Bob walked on through Life’s Supermarket Brian saw, next to Wicked Rice, was some Living Water. He considered it for a fleeting moment and chose to move on without picking it up, as he was distracted by some Evil Enchiladas. He had no idea what they were but he wanted some, so he put them in his trolley next to the rice. Brian tried to wheel his trolley backwards to the Living Water but discovered it only went one way, so he pushed his trolley forward.

SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO MAKE THAT CHOICE NOW, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. YOU DON’T KNOW IF A SECOND CHANCE IS COMING.

“Ouch!” he bumped his knee as one of the wheels got stuck and seemingly refused to rotate and acted like a brake. It slowed him down. He grumbled and grimaced as he tried to move his trolley forward. He was a trying hard to keep control of it but trollies can be hard. As he moved slowly he took the opportunity to pick up some bad beans and saucy sausages. He went to move on, then he thought “You know what, I’ll have a few more of them, they can’t do me any harm.”

SOMETIME WHEN YOU ARE HURTING IT CAN BE EASY TO MAKE BAD CHOICES.

As he moved forward he noticed again there was an offer on the Living Water. It looked like you got the Bread of Life with it, a kind of two for one. He tried to manoeuvre the trolley towards it but couldn’t make it go sideways. He tried looking from a distance to see exactly what the offer was. As he strained to see what it was, a man walked by and saw Brian looking at the bread. The man smiled and said “Man cannot live on bread alone” Brian laughed at that. This was true he thought and walked on.

PERSUASIVE TALK FROM WELL MEANING BUT FRANKLY MISLEAD PEOPLE CAN DISTRACT YOU FROM MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE.

Brian continued on, his trolley seemingly having a mind of its own as it skewed sideways and bumped into the side of the aisle. He stopped and took a deep breath, he was annoyed at the lack of control he had over his trolley. He had noticed other people on their shopping trip of life had experienced trolley problems. Some had even fallen over. Some had given up. On the other hand he had noticed some people seemed to be fine with their trollies and they had so much more than him. Why was he so unlucky? He looked at the shelves he had clattered into. There was the Living Water again. “They are really trying to sell this” he thought.

SOMETIMES CIRCMSTANCES CAN OCCUR THAT CAN REALLY MAKE YOUR CHOICE BLACK AND WHITE

He noticed for the first time the water came with a free Cup of Salvation. Now that was a good offer. He went to read the small print on the cup. It’s good to read the small print in Life’s Supermarket.

As he picked up the cup, he noticed on the shelf next to the water were some Tempting Truffles.

OH NO – NOT AGAIN! IT IS TEMPTATION THIS TIME

He put the cup down and moved swiftly with his trolley, yes strangely but swiftly with his trolley, towards what was tempting him - The Truffles. He picked them up and checked his watch. His time was up, he had better checkout.

Did he have time to look at the Living Water offer? He chose not to bother. It was probably too good to be true.

He made his way to the checkout. He saw Bob and waved. Bob wave back and shouted across to him “How’s your shopping trip been in Life’s Supermarket?”

“It’s been alright,” Brian replied “I’ve picked up all sorts of things, some good some not so much. My trolley has been awful though. I’ve felt like I haven’t been in control at all”

Bob said he had experienced exactly the same problems and then he explained “…although when I picked up the Living Water and put it in my trolley, an assistant came along and helped me with the shopping.”

“I didn’t know you could get help” said Brian.

“I read it on the side of the packaging and decided to believe it. I chose to give it a try. And I also found with the cup of salvation you get all your shopping paid for.”

Brian stood there dumbfounded. His mouth dropped wide open. “Really? He asked. “Everything paid for”

“That’s what it said on the packaging. That’s why I put it in the trolley. That and the free assistant. They’ve been amazing, really helped me when I was in trouble in aisle 3. Anyway, here I am at the checkout, checking out” said Bob with a smile and a hope.

“Me too” Said Brian “My shopping trip of Life’s Supermarket has ended as well”.

Brian looked at the cashier, then over at Bob, then his mouth dropped open, again, but this time in amazement as the cashier with Bob saw the Cup of Salvation in his trolley and waved him through.

Brian then looked back at the cashier at his checkout. The cashier looked back at him. They both looked in the trolley. It was too late. He knew it.

Brian could see Bob leaving. Was that a new shopping trolley Bob was pushing? Brian felt his teeth beginning to gnash as he realised what he had chosen, or hadn’t chosen. To think all he had to do was believe, and pick up the Living Water and put it in his trolley. Why hadn’t he done it? It really was that simple. It was then Brian felt the tears starting to well up and his anger made his teeth gnash even harder.

Prayer

Lord God, Almighty Father. Lord Jesus. Holy Spirt we welcome you and ask you to lead and guide our hearts and minds as we come before you now. We will now enter a time of prayerful reflection. To consider the story and your trolley as you push through Life’s Supermarket.

Life really is like a supermarket trolley. It is difficult to push, it rarely seems to go in the right direction, no matter how it is shoved, but we thank you Lord that there is help.

First of all - Let us reflect on our trolleys, or in other words our lives. We acknowledge life is difficult to control on our own, Lord we acknowledge you are willing to step in and help. 

Show us what we should do, show us what choices we should make.

Lord Jesus, we thank you we can pick up the Living Water. Lord we want to pick you up and bring you into our lives.

We acknowledge life is an opportunity to ask you in. For you to save us from the things we do wrong.

Lord Jesus, we choose you. Lord Jesus, We choose you the Son of God. We ask you now to please come into our lives.

Lord please bless us with your Holy Spirit that we may move through our lives according to the way you want us to live. Holy Spirit please come and assist us and help us.

We thank you Jesus for the choice. We thank you Lord Jesus we choose you. The son of God.

Amen

Lost and Found

Lost and Found
A sketch with a twist that challenges our zeal for evangelism
Parts in order of appearance: ·         Husband ·         Beggar ·         Wife A husband opens the door quietly so as not to disturb his wife, who is off stage, and then turns and beckons his new friend, a beggar he has just befriended, into the house (onto the stage). They both step through the door. The husband is keen not to disturb his wife until he has the chance to explain who he has brought home.
Husband	(Quietly) Come in, Come in.
Beggar	(Not quiet but not loud either) Thank you so much for all you are doing for me.
Husband	Oh that’s quite alright. It’s what Christ calls us to do as Christians. (still quiet and looking around nervously)
Beggar	I know, you keep telling me, and I am grateful. Ever since you started talking to me in the subway…
Husband	Shhhh. I don’t want you to startle my wife.
Beggar	Sorry!
Husband	Don’t apologise, it will be OK. Now don’t worry, I do want you to meet her. Besides you’ll have to meet her otherwise she will wonder who it is in the shower when you are up there.
Wife	(Shouting from off stage) Husband, is that you. You’re late again. You’ve not brought another beggar home have you?  (Awkward silence then she walks on stage and stares at husband then looks at beggar and says politely to him) Good evening. (Turns back to husband and stares angrily hands on hips and tapping her feet)
Beggar	Good evening, nice to meet you.
Wife	(smiles again at beggar and turns attention back to husband and stares expectantly)
Husband	(Strides over to his wife, arms open and hugs her) Hello darling. I’m home.
Wife	Again! (Doesn’t respond to hug)
Husband	I always come home?
Wife	Yes, you do don’t you! This is the third beggar you’ve brought home this week.
Husband	I know, but you know God calls all Christians to give. (Turns to Beggar) Please take a seat in our lounge. Make yourself at home.
Beggar	Thank you. (Walks to edge of stage and takes a seat and reads a paper)
Wife	(Takes husband to one side and from now on the conversation is meant to be out of ear shot of the beggar) I have no food left.
Husband	None at all?
Wife	How am I meant to feed him and us? I only have a meal for two left in the freezer. I was going shopping tomorrow.
Husband	We can split it 3 ways can’t we?
Wife	Tut! I suppose… (Sniffs). What’s that smell?
Husband	I can’t smell anything.
Wife	It’s him isn’t it?
Husband	Oh that smell. It’s what I brought him back for.
Wife	For a shower?
Husband	Yes
Wife	OK, but keep an eye on him as we lost our toothbrushes last time and I had to go to my pilates class with breath that could peel wallpaper.
Husband	How can I keep an eye on him in the shower? It’s a bit rude me stood in there with him...
Wife	Well I can’t can I?
Husband	No, I suppose you can’t.
Wife	(Pause then suddenly pointing) Why is he wearing my slippers?
Husband	He has small feet.
Wife	What?
Husband	And he had nothing to keep his feet warm. He was homeless.
Wife	I know God calls us to give, but those are my best slippers. At least you’ve given him your scarf, although I did give you it for your birthday. It took me ages to find one like that.
Husband	In the early Church they shared everything according to those who had need.
Wife	Yes but they were in the same Church. They were sharing things with each other in the same Church.
Husband	He is in our Church.
Wife	No he isn’t. Our church isn’t that big and besides I would have smelled him.
Husband	He is a new member.
Wife	How new?
Husband	About 2 hours ago.
Wife	(Startled) 2 hours ago?
Husband	When he became a Christian.
Wife	Hold on a minute. You said about the early Church sharing things. How much have you shared exactly?
Husband	Your slippers as he had no shoes. (Pause) And my hat. (Pause) My belt as his trousers were about to fall down. (Longer pause)
Wife	And?
Husband	My sandwich as he had no food. (Pause) And my drink. Actually I am a bit thirsty. I would love a cup of tea.
Wife	Don’t change the subject. What else have you given him…
Husband	He has no money so I gave him some of ours.
Wife	OK how much, £5 or £10?
Husband	A tad more than that. He has nothing. Only the clothes he is wearing.
Wife	Ok, ok but how much. It’s the end of the month and I don’t have much for the shopping tomorrow as it is. Hold on, oh no, you’ve not given him all our shopping money have you?
Husband	(Awkward shuffle) Oh no I didn’t do that.
Wife	That’s a relief, we have to eat as well you know.
Husband	I gave him our savings.
Wife	(Explodes) OUR WHAT?
Beggar	(At the shout he looks over)
Husband	Sorry! Didn’t mean to disturb you.
Beggar	That’s alright. I’m not causing any problems am I?
Husband	No not at all. No problems (Beggar returns to what he was doing and husband turns back to wife trying to calm her)
Wife	(In an angry staccato tone) You… gave… him… our… savings…. All of it?
Husband	In the Bible the rich young ruler had to give up all he had to follow Jesus. I didn’t want to go away sad like he did.
Wife	Yes but all of it? Why on earth would you … oh no …hold on … he’s homeless. Tell me you’ve not given him our home.
Husband	(Pause) Not exactly. We do have a spare room though.
Wife	He’s moving in?
Husband	Yes
Wife	(Angrily) When?
Husband	After his shower.
Wife	He can’t. My mother is coming to staying this week!
Husband	Sorry, I forgot.
Wife	She’ll be here tomorrow. Where can she sleep?
Husband	Good question. (Thinks and then has an idea) I know, after his shower he can take a drive…
Wife	(Interrupts) He can take a drive? HE CAN TAKE A DRIVE? How can he take a drive he hasn’t got a car!
Husband	(Smiles awkwardly) He needs a car so he can find a job. I gave him your car so he can …
Wife	(Interrupts again) My car? You gave him my car? Why not your car? He only joined the Church 2 hours ago and you’re … etc
	(The argument goes on in the background – a bit of ad libing is called for here. The Beggar stands up and walks to the front to address the audience)
Beggar	I may be a bit new to all this, having just become a Christian, but even I can see there are a lot of questions to be answered here. Questions like – How much should a Christian give? Who should they give to? When should you share with Church members? Should you give to Beggars? (Nods towards Husband and Wife) Should they get marriage guidance? These are questions I can’t answer. All I know is 2 hours ago I was lost, but now, thanks to this mans actions, I am found. How much are you prepared to give to win souls for Jesus?

Hope and Encouragement are good friends

Encouragement and Hope were good friends. One day they were walking down the street, having a chat and looking out for people to encourage and give hope to when they found a man who was lost and couldn’t see anyway he would have a future for himself. Hope sat down with him and talked to him and gave him hope – It’s what he does. Encouragement talked to him about the good things he could see in the man and how he could use these good things – It’s what he does as well.

They walked with the man for a while until the man was ready to go on his own, and then he did. This is what Encouragement and Hope do. 

Encouragement and Hope walked on. Encouragement turned to Hope and commented on the fact that the words Hope had just used were perfect for the man they had just met. Hope explained he had learned from an old friend called Trust that it is best to allow the words to come from the heart. Encouragement said how he would like to meet Trust. Hope thought he already had.

Now as they were having this discussion, they turned down a small alleyway and bumped into Hindrance and Impossibility. These two were their nemesis. It has to be said it was strange how no matter where Encouragement and Hope went, they always found Hindrance and Impossibility weren't far away. Anyway, these ne’er-do-wells were determined to discourage and create hopelessness amongst all people. The found if they could do this it would lead people to Hatred. Now you need to know, wherever Hindrance and Impossibility lurked, and they were particularly good at lurking, you could always rely on their gang leader Hatred being just around the corner.  The more people that Hatred had in his gang the stronger and more powerful he became.

The four of them bumping into each other was literal. They bumped into each other as they walked down a narrow alleyway (These sort of things always happen in narrow alleyways). Hope and Encouragement greeted them and politely asked them to move. Hindrance responded simply by deliberately getting in the way, and Impossibility sneeringly pointed out he could not possibly move. The four of them stood staring into each other’s eyes, not in a nice way either. Their eyes narrowed and tension mounted. Hope and Encouragement were peace loving but were not afraid to get into a battle should the matter rise to the level of combat.

As fists clenched and nostrils flared, the tension mounted. Then Hope turned to Encouragement and said “You, know we don’t need to fight today.”

Encouragement nodded “It wouldn’t be fair” he said “considering whom we’ve arranged to meet.”

The two of them agreed and started to back out of the alleyway. Hindrance and Impossibility snarled and growled about how there was no hope of them escaping, that it was impossible to get away, and how they should give up. They paused for a moment to consider what Encouragement meant about it not being fair and who exactly they were meeting. The pause didn’t last long, as Hindrance and Impossibility suddenly smiled.

In normal circumstances Hope and Encouragement like a smile and positively encourage the facial activity, but it has to be said they didn’t like these particular smiles. The reason for the smiles, was that Hindrance and Impossibility had spotted their leader Hatred who was slowly and menacingly creeping up behind Hope and Encouragement. He was good at creeping up on people. He got closer, beside him was his fearsome sidekick Anger. They both crept silently as Hope and Encouragement were backing out of the alleyway. The thing with Hatred is he didn’t like to let Hindrance and Impossibility out on their own. He always wanted to make sure they did exactly what he told them to do, he had obviously never met Trust.

As our two friends backed out of the alleyway, they saw the crooked aggressive smiles on the faces of Hindrance and Impossibility. They heard their snarling and the growling words becoming stronger, telling them they had no way of getting out of this, spitting the words out at them.

Then they heard Anger growl, and then Hatred simply said ‘At last I can finish you’

Hope and Encouragement turned. They stood face to face with Anger and Hatred.

Hope and Encouragement smiled.

Hatred was infuriated by what he saw as belligerence on the part of Hope and Encouragement. Hatred and Anger roared and stepped forward fists raised ready to annihilate Hope and destroy Encouragement, but they both suddenly stopped just before throwing the first punch.

The stopped as they stared in disbelief over the shoulders of Hope and Encouragement as the figures of Hindrance and Impossibility flee out the other end of the alleyway.

How dare they! Hatred and Anger fuelled by hatred and anger (obviously), raised their fists again, but yet again stopped, as this time from behind them, they heard footsteps. Did these footsteps belong to the one Hope and Encouragement had arranged to meet? Was this why they were still smiling?

Realisation dawned on Hatred. He knew and really loathed those footsteps. He knew exactly who they belonged to and he knew he could not defeat the one making them, no matter how he might try, oh and he had tried. Anger wanted to fight, he always wanted to fight. Hatred lowered his fists, Anger copied. Hatred looked at the two friends “Is it Love behind me?” he asked. Hope and Encouragement nodded.

Hatred fled. Anger looked back, he saw Love and thought about staying, but quickly decided this was no place for him today and ran after Hatred.

Love walked up to Hope and Encouragement. Love was strong, Love was big, Love was beautiful and brave. Love greeted Hope and Encouragement with a smile and a big warm hug. Love won again.

This type of conflict happens all day every day, be strong and get to know Hope and Encouragement, meet their friend Trust and do everything knowing Love is the best and strongest of all, and of course …

                …we all know who Love is.