Fire in the Nursing Home

Fire in the Nursing Home

How many ways are there to heaven?

Features

Based on an analogy by J. Robertson McQuilkin in "The Narrow Way," from Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, by Winter and Hawthorne, Wm. Carey Library, 1981, pp. 133-34.
Puts into stark relief Jesus' words, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Rules

1. The leader assigns the roles by handing each participant one role description. No one sees the role description of the others.

2. Give participants a minute or two to ponder how they will enact their role.

3. Prior to starting, each character reads aloud the first portion of their role description. The portion in brackets [ ] must not be shared.

4. The participants take initial positions as seems appropriate to their roles.

5. If there is an audience observing, the leader advises them to select one person in the simulation whom they will watch closely. They are to note how he or she reacts.

6. The leader then introduces the simulation by reading the following:

You all are on the 10th floor of a large nursing home facility. The exit is located ... (indicate where it is). The old folks in this building move very slowly. Many of them have disabilities. Security officers are on hand in case of an emergency. Suddenly fire breaks out.

7. The leader permits the simulation to continue as long as he or she wishes. Be sure to allow time for the conflict between the two security officers to have an impact on the orderly and the old folks.

8. Afterward, debrief, comparing this experience to Christ's claims to be the only way to heaven.

Roles

1. You are 88 years old and half blind. [Listen closely to what is said by the two security officers.]

2. You are 91 years old and half deaf and move very slowly. [You follow wherever a security officer leads you.]

3. You are 82 years old. You can think clearly, but are bound to a wheelchair. [Listen closely to what is said by the two security officers.]

4. You are 79 years old. A stroke has left you unable to use your left side. [Listen closely to what is said by the two security officers.]

5. You are 94 years old and senile. All you say is, "It's so nice you came to see me." [You blindly obey whatever you hear a security officer say.]

6. You are 85 years old. You fall down and can't get up. [Listen closely to what is said by the two security officers.]

7. You are 84 years old. To walk you need a walker, which you have misplaced. [Listen closely to what is said by the two security officers.]

8. You are 98 years old and very alert, though slow moving. [Listen closely to what is said by the two security officers.]

9. You are an orderly in the nursing home. [Your job is to help the security officers exit people from the building in safety. However, your task will be made difficult by the conflicting opinions of the security officers. You will have to decide which one to obey.]

10. You are a security officer in the nursing home. [You are responsible for leading the old folks to safety. You know the only fire escape is in the corner of the building indicated by the Leader. Stick to this fact, no matter what happens. Don't change your mind!!!]

11. You are a security officer in the nursing home. [You are convinced that there must be other means of escape besides the exit idicated by the Leader. Direct people to search for another exit door. Persuade some to jump from a window, assuring them they will land in soft shrubs. Encourage some to make ropes out of sheets to lower themselves to safety. Argue with the other safety officer who foolishly insists there is only one way out. Call him or her mistaken and narrow minded. Try to convince everyone you are right. Command the orderly to obey you. Don't change your mind!!!]

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