Checkers
This is a one-act play
concerning the name for God. No elaborate staging: only two participants and a
checkerboard. We watch them play and have their lively discussion. I wrote
this a single sitting years ago and never revised it. This play is not
sacrilegious; it does not toy with God’s name. It is my attempt to address with
wonderment, and at the same time traditionalism, the name Yahweh, or YHWH
as it is written in ancient Hebrew. Here they are in a public park. Two
seniors are about to play checkers again. Enjoy their conversation and see who
wins!
RED
Hello, Mr.
Stankiwitz.
BLACK
Hello.
RED
How are you?
BLACK
As good as the
next guy.
RED
“As good as the
next guy?” What kind of an answer—
BLACK
Can we talk
without you asking questions?
RED
(setting
up checkers positions) I don’t know. I
don’t… know.
BLACK
That pause. It
was so long. Almost turning it into a question.
RED
Oh, you’ll know
if I’m asking a question… or… not.
BLACK
There’s that
pause again.
RED
Don’t worry
about it.
BLACK
I won’t.
RED
Say, what do
you think about—let me ask one question.
BLACK
All right. But
don’t expect a single answer.
RED
Okay. What does
Moses mean when he gets God to answer his question about “Who shall I say
sent me?” – you know, when he foresees problems going back into Egypt where
everyone is still in slavery.
BLACK
Your question
is, if I understand it—and I think I understand you better than this
question you’re asking—what does Moses mean? Well, first of all, he
wants some authority. He doesn’t know yet that God is willing to work lots of
miracles, plagues, grasshoppers—that stuff—in order to get the Egyptians tired
of having them—even with their free labor—around. He thinks his words
must do the convincing. Then if they believe the words, people will do
as he says. So, he… he’s got to say who it is that sent him and,
preferably, something new about it.
RED
That seems
plausible to the ones in Egypt. They’re not starving; they’ve got shelter. But
they’re slaves. They’ve always been slaves; they were born
slaves—
BLACK
Shall we talk
about what God says his name is and what it means?
RED
Oh, now you’re asking the question.
BLACK
Yes, but this
interests me.
RED
Okay.
“I-am-that-I-am.” What’s so difficult about it?
BLACK
Everything!
Tells me nothing about God!
RED
Must someone’s
name tell you something?
BLACK
When it is our
God’s name, yes. Too important just to have a name you like to hear.
The law says—and we recite faithfully—God is one. There’s just one
of him. His name must be unique!
RED
I see.
BLACK
I could go on,
into great detail—
RED
(holding
up a hand) It is not necessary.
BLACK
All right. Then
let me offer you a few meanings of the name that tie-in his “being” with
“time” and “purpose” and his “character”.
RED
You can do all
that?
BLACK
(nods)
Why not? And if I can say it, you can understand it.
RED
Try me.
BLACK
First, it’s no
use saying God “was”, ‘cause if you still “are”, and haven’t changed, then “was”
is without meaning.
RED
Sounds like it
depends upon what your definition of the word “is” is.
BLACK
Okay, Mr.
President. (combined laughter)
RED
Go on. (he nods)
BLACK
Then, if you
say, “What I was, I still am being…”
RED
(yawning)
Yes, you can say that, but pardon me if I yawn in your holy face—
BLACK
That’s what I
mean! Not satisfying. There’s no “Get up! Let’s march out of Egypt !” in this
name. See what I mean?
RED
Now you’re
asking—
BLACK
Oh shut up!
So, “I was”… “I still am”… “What I was is what I shall do?”
RED
Better than
nothing. (red does a double jump) Now let me try a couple.
“What I intend is more of the same.” (pause) “You saw it once,
you’ll see it again.”
BLACK
Are you in
advertising?
RED
I’m as old as
you are. That’s not how you sell soap flakes!
BLACK
I’m sorry.
Keep going. I’ll shut up.
RED
“What is, can
change!”
BLACK
Nice motto, but
not for a name of God.
RED
You’re right.
Let me get back to the speedy log I was riding the river on.
BLACK
What an
imagination!
RED
“I will always
be what I am.” Like a promise, you see.
BLACK
That’s good?
RED
Of course! God is good.
BLACK
Good for
himself, maybe.
RED
No, not just…
but good for all. If you interact with God, then good comes of it
to you as well.
BLACK
Yes… I believe
that.
RED
How about: “I
am always being”, like I am always “busy”?
BLACK
Yes.
RED
“I’m busy
being.”
BLACK
No. That
doesn’t make it.
RED
Then: “As I
was, will be continuous”?
BLACK
“To be
continued”?
RED
No. You’re
right. That is inadequate as well.
BLACK
Can you
guarantee that when we end this discussion of ours I will be approving of it and
like what I’m hearing?
RED
Say, you’ve got
something there. How about: “What I will bring into being is like the ‘good
‘ol days’”?
BLACK
Yogi Berra once
said—
RED
Stop! Enough of
the foolishness! To think about God is serious business! After all, he’s
listening.
BLACK
Does he care so
much, really?
RED
Yes. If he’s
willing to listen, then you can be assured that he does care.
BLACK
Get them up and
start marching, eh? (he leans forward and asks quietly, spelling it)
“Y-H-W-H”—what do you think that name is and what it really
means?
RED
Me? I’m not
supposed to think such things and say the holy name, as you do.
BLACK
But Moses
started it, so let’s continue the discussion. I have an idea. I feel good in
saying it!—
RED
Wait, before you
solve this. I have been thinking, more about including “destiny” and tying it
to the fact that God is holy.
BLACK
Go on, say what
you’re thinking. I can remember mine. (he sits back)
RED
“The holy
purpose I have still is becoming”
BLACK
“Still in the
works”?
RED
Yes. But, it sounds better when said “my” way. It is the fulfilling of a divine
purpose. Destiny.
BLACK
And holiness
in “your” destiny?
RED
Am I mixing too
much?
BLACK
No. Not
really. Yet, I don’t think it says enough about God—
RED
The character,
personality he has? Don’t forget: Marching.
BLACK
You’re right. Raison d’ etre—“purpose for being”.
RED
I didn’t know
you spoke French!
BLACK
The French
don’t think I do.
RED
Sounded pretty
good to my old ears.
BLACK
Yes, but say
that in Paris as I just did, they’ll probably serve you up a hot dog:
wiener on a bun. (laughter) Is it my turn still?
RED
Keep in mind:
I’m pretty comfortable sitting where I am.
BLACK
My little nephew
once said—he must be fifty now—“’Y-H-W-H’ is the sound the wind makes
when a star gets in the way.” (both smile across at each other)
Okay. So, here are my three, rapid fire: “I will be who I have been”, “Still I
am who I was”, “What I was is how all shall be.” Ah, now I see this… I’m
saying, “What is to come into being, you will take advantage of and like!”
RED
I feel… a
little bit like marching!
BLACK
“What is to
come to pass, you will like.”
RED
It does make me
feel kind of good to think like that. But I’m afraid I must stick with the old
steady, literal and true “I am that I am”.
BLACK
Even if you
don’t make sense from this?
RED
Even so.
BLACK
It does bring to
mind what the Psalmist said, repeating: “Oh Lord, our Lord. How majestic is
thy name in all the earth.” See? It speaks of God in the creation. Maybe “my
name” is all right after all!
RED
We’ll have to
discuss this again… but over a different game of checkers! (RED
wins)
THE END
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