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
Love in Jesus
Adrian Bonham aka Morning Light, The Larrikin
I looked to the heavens to where God dwells
I looked into my life to see he lives there as well.
Outpost 49
Hawkesbury Royal Rangers
Windsor, N.S.W.
Australia
F.C.F. 94
http://www.summit.net.au/~founder1/
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