The Most Important Thing

The Ruler of a land tries to determine what thing is most important to help the people of the land. This story is adapted from a short story by Leo Tolstoy as depicted in One Hundred Wisdom Stories collected by Margaret Silf.

Cast

RULER - The ruler of the land (older actor)

PAGE - An assistant to the RULER (older actor)

THE MINISTERS - government representatives (younger actors). Each one can have a symbol of their area of concern on them somewhere. The MINISTERS should include at least the areas of FINANCE, AGRICULTURE, COMMUNICATIONS, and COMMERCE but others can be included.

GARDENER - a wise person who likes to tend their garden.

THE PEOPLE - anyone else who wants to be part of the play (younger actors).

Props

Pieces of paper that look like old documents. They could have the word PROBLEMS on them in large letters.
Gardening tools
Two chairs

[As the service begins, there is a chair in the center of the front. Strewn around the chair are pieces of paper marked PROBLEMS. RULER is seated in the chair and looks through the papers.]

Prelude

Story, Part I

[RULER sits on a chair ruffling through official documents. PAGE enters.]

PAGE

You called for me, your highness?

RULER

Yes. There are too many issues here and I don’t know what to do.

PAGE

Issues?

RULER

Yes. The people of this land are not happy. Look here. (picks up a document) The farmers are not happy because their animals are not getting enough grain… and here. (picks up another document) The ranchers are not happy because they say there is not enough water for their grain. (Picks up more papers) And here. The people are not happy because they are hungry and the shopkeepers are not happy because people need money to buy their goods. Then there’s THIS problem and THIS problem and all these problems.

PAGE

Problems? Problems? There’s always problems. What would the day be without problems? So what’s the problem?

RULER

The problem is that there are too many problems and I don’t know what to do.

PAGE

Oh well, that’s easy. Why didn’t you say so? All you have to do is find the most important thing and begin there.

RULER

But how do I figure out what is the most important thing?

PAGE

You just pick one (grabs a random document) and say ‘here it is. This is the most important thing.’

RULER

Let me see that. (grabs the document from the PAGE’s hands and reads it) Our polo team lost the championship. That’s not the most important thing. There must be a better way to determine the most important thing.

PAGE

We could gather together the great minds of the land and ask them.

RULER

Why yes! That’s the answer. Gather together the greatest minds of the land and bring them here to me so that I may speak to them.

PAGE

Yes, your highness. Right after polo practice. (RULER gives PAGE a stern look) I mean right away. (PAGE exits)

Welcome and Introduction

NARRATOR

There are times in everyone’s life when we simply feel overwhelmed and don’t know what to do. Sometimes it is necessary to pare down all the demands in our lives and figure out what is the most important thing. This story may help us find a way to answer that question. It is about the ruler of a great land who did their best to keep their people safe and happy. The ruler was a kind person but felt overwhelmed by all that had to be done. People needed homes and jobs and food and the ruler could not decide what should be done first so they gathered together the leaders of the land to help the Ruler determine the most important thing.

Story, Part 2

[RULER is still in the chair. Surrounding the RULER is a collection of MINISTERS from the land. PAGE stands nearby.]

RULER

I have assembled all of you here together to help me determine what is the most important thing for me to handle first so that we can begin to help our people. You there. (points to MINISTER of FINANCE) You are the Minister of Finance. Tell me what is the most important thing?

MINISTER OF FINANCE

Money!

RULER

The Minister of Finance thinks that money is the most important thing. You there. (points to the MINISTER of AGRICULTURE) You are my Minister of Agriculture. What do you say is most important?

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE

Food!

RULER

Food! Yes, of course. We all need to eat and must have farmland to grow our food but is that the most important thing? How about you, my Minister of Communication? (points to the MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS) What is the most important thing?

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS

Connections!

RULER

Yes, connections are very important but so is funding and farming. Which is really the most important thing? How about you, my Minister of Commerce? (points to the MINISTER OF COMMERCE) What is the most important thing?

MINISTER OF COMMERCE

Good grades!

RULER

Grades? I thought you would say that the exchange of goods would be most important.

MINISTER OF COMMERCE

I’m still in school.

RULER

Yes, of course. Grades are very important, especially if you are still in school but they can’t be THE most important thing. Surely, one of you must know what is the most important thing. Please tell me!

[All the MINISTERS shout out answers at once]

RULER

Enough! (The MINISTERS quiet down) We are getting nowhere.

PAGE

Your Highness, perhaps we are going about this the wrong way. Maybe we should eliminate all those things which are least important and then whatever is left will be your answer.

RULER

Very good idea, wise PAGE. Let us ask the people of this land. (turns to the Congregation) I ask you great people to call out something that is the LEAST important thing.

[The Congregation shouts out answers. The PAGE scrambles about and writes some of the answers down. The MINISTERS exit.]

NARRATOR

There is one thing that we all know is very important and that is the chance for us to gather together. We will light our chalice in recognition of this important gathering.

Chalice Lighting

Let the flame within our hearts join together now as we light this chalice–symbol of our commitment to this beloved community.

Let its light guide us to find the most important things and to know what to do with those things once we find them to make the world a better place for all.

May it be so.

Hymn 1

STLT#90 From All The Fret And Fever Of The Day

Story Part III

[RULER is still seated with the PAGE nearby.]

RULER

Well, did you discover a lot of very unimportant things?

PAGE

Yes, I did.

RULER

And what did you discover?

[The PAGE can either read off some of the answers collected from the Congregation or skip ahead.]

PAGE

We are no closer to finding an answer to your question.

RULER

What can I do now?

PAGE

Can’t you just ask Goo Gull the Gardener?

RULER

Goo Gull, Goo Gull? Are you gagging on a crust of bread or something? What is Goo Gull?

PAGE

You have not heard of the wise person who goes by the name Goo Gull? Goo Gull knows all. Goo Gull knows the answer to every question, all you have to do is ask. Goo Gull the Great lives by the river and spends the day tending a garden.

RULER

And how do you find this Goo Gull?

PAGE

Follow the river until you see the Bay of Keys by the Sea of Screens. There you will find the grand gully of the great Goo Gull the Gardener.

RULER

I dare you to say that ten times fast.

PAGE

Just go that way. (points the way)

[RULER exits]

Joys and Concerns

NARRATOR: Ours is a spiritual community of compassion where we find meaning and connection together. Here we are safe to share our personal joys and our concerns. We take this time to share these things with each other within the support of our beloved community.

Reflection

[At this point in the service the Service Leader can offer a reflection on the message of the play or the Congregation can offer insights on what they think will happen next and what could be learned from the theme of the service.]

Story Part IV

[GARDENER is slightly to the side pantomiming digging in the dirt and planting vegetables. RULER enters from the side and finds the GARDENER.]

RULER

Are you the wise person I seek?

GARDENER

I am a simple gardener.

RULER

Are we by the Bay of Keys and the Sea of Screens?

GARDENER

Yes we are.

RULER

Then you are who I seek. Simple gardener, answer me one thing. What is the most important thing?

GARDENER

I cannot answer that.

RULER

You can not answer my question or will not answer my question?

GARDENER

I cannot.

RULER

I am the ruler of these lands. I command you to provide me with an answer.

GARDENER

I would if I could but I cannot. (collapses in exhaustion)

RULER

What is wrong?

GARDENER

I have been digging in this garden for so long. I can do no more.

RULER

Then I will help you. (goes to the GARDENER and helps out with the digging)

RULER

Why do you work so hard on this garden?

GARDENER

My brother is injured and cannot tend his garden and my sister is ill and cannot bring the vegetables to the market.

RULER

Then we will tend this garden together and I will help you bring these vegetables to market. All that I ask in return is an answer to my question.

GARDENER

You shall have your answer.

Hymn 2

STLT #69 “Give Thanks”

Story, Part V

[RULER is back in the chair at the center. The GARDENER stands nearby.]

RULER

It feels good to be back home. Gardener, please pull up a chair with me.

GARDENER

I could not possibly sit next to your highness in court.

RULER

Please. I insist.

GARDENER

(grabs a chair and sits next to RULER) I wish to thank you, your highness, for helping me with the garden and my family.

RULER

I was happy to help but I believe you owe me an answer to my question.

GARDENER

Is that so?

RULER

I asked what is the most important thing for me to do and you said that I would have my answer.

GARDENER

And so you do.

RULER

Do what?

GARDENER

You already have your answer.

RULER

I don’t understand.

GARDENER

When you saw me falter in my garden you came to my aid and when you heard about the plight of my brother and sister you looked for a way to help.

RULER

Yes? So?

GARDENER

So you found what was most important without thinking about it.

RULER

You mean that while I’ve been trying to figure out the answer to my question I already had it.

GARDENER

That’s right. The way to find the most important thing is to keep your heart open in compassion and then the path will be revealed to you.

RULER

And now I know how I can help the people of this land. Come my people! (THE PEOPLE enter and surround the RULER) Let us open our hearts and find ways to help each other so we can live in peace and happiness.

[Everyone celebrates]

Offertory

Story, Epilogue

NARRATOR

And so the people of the land took the advice of the RULER who had learned an important lesson. People were asked to open their hearts to each other, to listen for what was needed, to be present to the moment and the situation, and to offer what they could to help one another.

Hymn 3

STLT #68 “One More Step”

Benediction

Go now in peace. Open your heart into the world and let it speak to you what needs to be done. Spread love. Spread peace. May it be so.