| For me the beginning would have to be the church recreation week
end at Louisiana College. I was a van driver for the youth of First Baptist
of Mansfield. When we got to the conference I was told just to find some
activity the youth were involve in and join them. I looked over the schedule
and saw a workshop on clowning and decided to see what was happening.
The class was being taught by this fellow that didn't look like a clown. I thought it was going to be a lot of joking around, Boy was I surprised. This guy kept talking about ministry and service in the same sentence with clowning. I began to really pay attention to what was being said. He gave many moving testimonies that really touched me (my wife says I'm just a big softy). It was all so different, but I began to see that I might be a Clown especially a Gospel Clown. He gave us many good instructions, in make-up, in skits, in props and costume. Yet the thing that moved me most was how he explained the transformation he would go through when he " put on the clown." |
He explained that the white makeup was like a death mask
and signified the death of oneself and that the colors that followed were
like new life or rebirth in Christ. He said that every time he put the
makeup on it was like his old self dying and Jesus coming to life in the
clown. I try to picture that in my mind every time I "put on the clown".
There was one prop he used that fascinated me as he showed us how to use it. He told us of several experiences he had where this particular prop had enabled him to minister to those in need, those hurting so that they would close up and not let any one get close to them. One story in particular was of the time when a friend was visiting
at a burn hospital, a little girl was in the bed in the room as he entered
and a lady was setting by the bed. He could feel something was not right
and would have backed out but the lady had already seen him so he continued
over toward the child and as he did he took a balloon out of his pocket
and made an apple.
|
As he twisted the balloon and the apple was formed he saw a little
light come in her eyes and then a shy grin formed on her lips. To his surprise,
out of the corner of his eye, he saw the woman break down and cry.
Thinking he had done something wrong he apologized and backed out of the room only to be followed by the woman. She caught up with him to thank him and it was then that he learned the little girl had neither talked or smiled or shown any sign of recognition since she had been hurt. The mother had been hoping that her daughter would be all right but through many days no change had come. She was crying for joy when she saw that smile come on her little girls face. That prop, sculpture balloons, has become my favorite. In ministering I, too, have had many wonderful experience. It is no longer hear say. I know that my redeemer liveth. I have seen His Hand working in me and other clowns as we minister. He has blessed me more than I can ever tell. |
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