God Rolls the Dice

FADE-IN EXTERIOR SHOT PARK AT A PICNIC BENCH ON A SUNNY DAY

God and Wes are sitting at the bench with a large oak tree shading them. They are playing another game of Yahtzee©. Wes is right in the middle of his roll. He hesitates.

WES

(somewhat exasperated)

I, uh…I think I’m done.

GOD

(looks up)

But I like playing games—this game especially.

WES

Yeah, but it just occurred to me that playing a dice game with you seems pretty pointless. And besides, how can you enjoy playing when you already know the ending?”

GOD

Yes…that is a good question. Hmmmm. Well here, let’s try something. Take the dice cup. I think you will roll two 6’s, a 4, a 2 and a 1.

Wes rolls the dice and it rolls those numbers.

WES

Hey, big surprise.

GOD

Yes…here let’s try again. Roll again, but this time, not even a suggestion of randomness. You will roll a 5, a 4, a 3, a 2 and a 1.

Reluctantly, Wes rolls the dice. It’s a Straight. Raises his eyebrows… unmoved.

GOD

So you see, not only did I predict what would happen in the first rolls, I actually made it happen exactly as I wish on the last roll.

WES

And thus, no fun to play with.

GOD

Perhaps you’re right. Here, maybe this will engage you—or disturb you. Try again BUT before you roll, I have a question for you. Have I ever lied to you?

WES

(taken aback by the odd question)

Lied? Well… no, of course not. I mean sometimes you say some of the most bizarre, unpredictable…

GOD

(interrupting him)

Do you think I’ve ever will lie to you?

WES

No.

GOD

Excellent! Okay. Roll again because this time, I have absolutely no idea what the dice will say.

WES

Wes’ head jerks up in astonishment.

What?! How can you say that? That…That’s impossible! You…

GOD

(interrupting)

Do I lie?

Staring at God for a moment, Wes slowly picks up the dice cup and puts the dice inside. He slowly shakes the cup while looking at God -simultaneously shakes his head in disbelief. He rolls the dice. Three 6’s and two 5’s. He lifts his hands in a state of not knowing where to go next.

WES

Okay, well, there it is. Three 6’s and two 5’s—and this is news to you? You, didn’t know what that was going to be?

GOD

Hmmm. Yes, I see this is a little disturbing. Let’s try one more time but here’s a little twist.

God writes something on a piece of paper, folds it and hands it to Wes

WES

Now what? Now what are you doing? This is really too much.

GOD

Take this but don’t look at it yet. Roll and once again, I have absolutely no idea what the dice will say.

Wes rolls a Yahtzee in 6’s! Five 6’s. He sort of jumps back, looking at the dice. Looking at God his eyes narrow in confusion. Then he reaches for the paper… the paper says ‘Yahtzee in 6’s.’ Wes actually starts scooting away a little like maybe something has just gone very, very wrong.

WES

There is something totally wrong with this. How could you not know? You just wrote it? You must know! That’s one of the very definitions of who you are!

GOD

You are disturbed because you have a construct in your mind about who We are. Your think I can only know everything, must know everything and cannot do otherwise. But I will tell you a secret.

Looks around as if making sure no one else is listening

GOD

(continuing)

I know a God so sovereign, He can not only predict what the dice say, but will cause the dice to say it. And I know a God so in control, He can even choose to not know what the dice will say—or choose not to know what the man will name his animals, because He chooses not to know.

Pointing to the Yahtzee paper.

And I know a God so enchanting, He can grant you the freedom to roll as you wish yet still accomplish His own will. And I know a God with a mercy so wide, He can choose to forget, and when He forgets, it is utterly forgotten. Forever. As far as the East is from the West. By chance, do you know a God like that?

Thoughtful, Wes slowly nods. His eyes looking at the dice, he glances up.

Wes

Yes. Yes I do. I do know a God like that.

GOD

(Smiling and taking the Dice cup)

Yes, I think you do. Now then, I believe it’s your roll.

FADE-OUT