Hey Gang,
Here is another story for you to "enjoy"
The Parable of the Clown.
by Adrian Bonham
Many years ago I use to work in a Circus as a ticket seller and
would, now, like to tell a story of something that happened while
I was there.
The owner of the circus had said, for some time now, that we
would be getting a new clown. One day the Clown arrived, he
just quietly came in and started working. His fame grew
throughout the land and soon people were coming from all over
just to see the Clown. He amused them with his stories and
stunned them with his tricks. The other performers began to be
jealous of him. There was another side to the Clown that not
many people saw, unless you lived in the circus. He would help
those who needed help.
A good example is Jose the labourer, it was his job to carry the
water up from the river each day in two buckets. Jose was old
and often struggled with this task. Each day the clown would go
down and when Jose put down the buckets to take a rest, he
would pick them and carry to tank. Then there was Darlene, the
trapeze artist, everyone knew that she had very loose morals.
The Clown set many an hour talking to her where everyone
could see them. This set tongues a wagging. The strange thing
was after about week, Jose would carry the water by himself
without stopping. He seemed to �younger�. Darlene, her
behaviour changed, she settled and married Buck the Bronco
Buster, but that�s another story. It seemed that those who sent
time with the Clown changed the way they lived.
There was something about the Clown that made people
change. I didn�t know what it was. All I knew was I needed it in
my lonely life. I hated who I was, a nobody, no one really saw
me, I was just there. One day the Clown came up to me and just
looked into my eyes. I felt so ashamed of what I had done in the
past, yet, it did not seem to matter to him. We became real good
friends,, he made realise that I was a person of great value.
Soon, people saw the change in me. I would no longer wearing
the shabby clothes I use to. I was polite to all the customers,
even those who did not deserve it. I took great pride in my work.
As the Clown�s popularity grew so did the resentment from the
other performers. They plotted to get rid of the Clown. One day
they saw their chance. They grabbed him and beat up very
badly. Then they took him to a tree and tied him up there to die.
It saw strange, he did not cry out in pain, only the love in his
eyes kept shining forth. Some of friends soon found the courage
to go to him, but it was too late, he was dead. We all mourned
for him, a part of us had been taken away. The strange thing was
the Owner did not do anything to those who had done this foul
deed. It was if he knew that there was a reason for it.
In the few days after this happen, Jose started to go back to his
old ways, until one day he came running up me and said, �I have
seen the Clown, Alive!� I was amazed. Later that day I saw him
to. he did not saying anything, but I knew what I had to do. I
went straight to his van and set in front of his mirror and looked
at the white grease paint he had used. I knew what I was meant
to do. So with trembling hands I scooped up the paint and
thickly smeared it on my face. I had to be the Clown for others.
Are ready to put on your grease paint and become the Clown to
others?
There's a storm coming, our Storm.
PROCLAIMING GOD'S LOVE TO A DYING WORLD
Say to the captives, 'come out,' and those in darkness, 'Be free!'
Isaiah 49:9
I looked to the heavens to where God dwells
I looked into my life to see he lives there as well.
Love in Jesus
Adrian Bonham
http://www.summit.net.au/~founder1/
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