INTRODUCTION
Most classes seem to have one - the person who all the rest think is a real creep,
the teacher's pet, or the one who always gets picked on. The one who really gets
on everyone's nerves. The one everyone else is suspicious about. The creep in
your class who has a reputation for wheeler-dealing in any commodity that's in
fashion. He seems to make loads of money out of it and, although you dislike him
so much, you can't help having to deal with him sometimes.
Today one of the former pupils of the school is coming back to visit. She's already
made the big time now, starring in a soap opera. You know that she's done other
things that make her famous too. Everyone wants to meet her. When she arrives
in the playground you all crowd around hoping for a glimpse - and maybe even a
word from her! The creep's there as well, of course, even if he can't get much
of a look-in. He's tried to climb up on the wall for a better view; at least that
takes him a long way from the action.
So imagine your surprise when the gorgeous soap opera star calls over to the creep!
He jumps down off the wall and heads in her direction. She wants him to show her
round the school. They even sit together at lunch time! You can hardly believe
it.
Funnily enough, after that day the creep gives up his wheeler-dealing, and suddenly
there's no-one around keener on the school's charity works than him... and, although
you had to admit it, you couldn't really call him a creep anymore...
KEY VIDEO CLIP
Episode 1b: Breakout
PRAYER
Lord, when Zacchaeus met you he knew that there was something more important in
life than his pride and the way he had been living.
Help us to know that by living to your standards we can be better people.
Help us to be just and fair in our dealings with those we meet.
And grant us grace to change when we need to.
Amen.
MUSIC
'Break Out' No.91 in The Complete Come and Praise
BBC, 1990
ISBN 0 563 345810
NOTES
Helena, Ben's Greek wife, tells this story in Storykeepers. This means that the
original is taken from Luke's gospel, handed down through the Gentile (i.e. Greek,
not Jewish) tradition. It is another story about sharing and fairness, like the
Feeding of the Five Thousand, but this time there is also an emphasis on repentance,
change and reconciliation.
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