J: The deadline. I was in the shower and the idea — sharing the gospel — came to me, so when I got out, I sat down and wrote a six-page draft. Having a (somewhat) recently returned missionary seemed like a good fit, considering that those two years would still be a large presence in his memory. I thought about replacing the mother with a girlfriend or an old companion, but the mother-son dynamic felt like it was what the play needed. And that’s how we got Jefferson and his mom. And neither of them is gay. (Grrr to J.K. Rowling.)

I’m sorry that I missed your play. We were in Seattle. I just read the script and liked it very much. I’m curious. What inspired the characters?

Before I continue, I want you to know that I enjoyed your play and laughed, and pondered.

I think the problem comes in deciding something is pushiness, when in fact that person might, just be following through on a prompting.

I had a Stake President in Colorado share in stake conference that Heavenly Father often answers are prayers by those around us. He counseled us to listen to parents and spouses and seek the Spirit’s confirmation. We could be praying and then closing the door, or window.

My mother in law was reading the bible after WWII and got the idea in her head to pray to enter into the house hold of the faithful.
When the missionaries knocked at her door, she was busy and turned them away. She quickly was reminded in her heart that she had been praying. She called them back and joined the church.

I would say its pushiness if its our plan and agenda, not His.

What about the recipient? If they are closed to answers coming in any other way, than what they specify, are they not limiting the Lord? You know the old dialog…
“Lord why did you let me drown in the flood?”
I tried, I sent a log, then a row boat, a speed boat, and finally a helicopter.”

Mother-son relationships can be touchy. Especially if the son has been home from a mission for a while and does not seem to her to be moving forward. However, when the mother is a righteous daughter of God, as was Jefferson’s mom, why the disconnect? He was closed to her, until almost the end. He tried to dissuade her gospel sharing, and ridiculed her care about introducing him to young ladies. Jefferson showed a shallowness to spirituality, and a distractedness by life. He did start reflecting about his lack of commitment in sharing the gospel on his mission.

I have a friend who said her brother, older than you, sought numerous blessings to be reassured that he would find his eternal companion. As a dear sister, she prayed for him. She even put his name and his future wife’s ,____, on temple prayer rolls. Would she be pushy if a name came to her, to introduce him to someone?
After praying, would she not be under obligation to follow promptings? I think it is sad that so many young men have attitudes and ideas about how their future will come into their lives. They shut doors and opportunities. It is so limiting.

At the end of the play, Jefferson got a Book of Mormon to take across the street. He did not resolve his other issues though.

I say, never ignore a prompting to do good.

Brings lots of thoughts to mind.

I smiled when I saw your dating dialog, and saw the screen writer coming through. But, just like the people that freely share the Gospel, perhaps they know something or have something they value and want to share. Perhaps they really so care. Perhaps they are not misguided.

I tend to be more direct, when sharing the gospel. I have relatives that say nothing and wait for others to ask. I am a convert. I had friends through my childhood that invited me to church and primary, and I went. Several years passed, then as a senior in High School I called the missionaries. They did not come and I waited. I called back and they came. That month of lessons was the longest month in my life. I joined the church in Jan 1973. I feel the pushy people I knew kept the Gospel in front of me. I am so thankful for them.