High in the heavens a big meeting was about to begin. Assembled in great lengths and depths were all the angels and voluntary workman angels awaiting the arrival of their master. They knew that this was a meeting of great importance for God to cease all activity in Heaven for its assembly.
A breeze began to stir, rearranging the clouds slightly. Suddenly the heavens lit up brightly as The Lord materialized before the waiting throngs. His majestic face was one of authority as he looked over the gathering. Noticeably absent from his face, however, was the familiar twinkle in his eyes that indicated the great sense of humor he was known to have. This sense of humor had been displayed continuously over the centuries, most noticeably in his creation of the world.
“I’ve called this meeting together,” He began, “because of a situation that has gotten way out of hand down there.” He pointed to the earth. “As you remember,” he continued, “80 years ago, I felt the world needed brightening up and set out to create a being that would spread sunshine and happiness to all people he encountered down there.”
“Oh yes, Master,” one of the voluntary workman angels replied. “I remember it very well indeed. I was working diligently, molding men and women out of mud and putting them on the assembly line. I was making tall ones, short ones, fat ones, and thin ones. Then I would wrap each mold carefully and put it on the big shelf. The next worker in line would smooth them out as they went past him on the conveyer belt. Then, every thousand or so, as had been done throughout the centuries, one would be turned a bit sideways on the belt. You would point a finger at him and say, “This one will be a jester and lighten the burden of the world’s troubles.
“It was always strange to me, if you’ll forgive me for saying so, Master, that all these jesters that went down in the world’s history, and in our files up here, were really sad at heart. Very unhappy themselves in a world that they had made happy with their antics. Some even left the world with a broken heart. Why so?”
“Well,” replied The Lord, “I’ve had to explain that to all of them when they eventually join us up here. You see, to be chosen to be given the gift of a clown is a great privilege and honor, and for such a privilege, sacrifices must be made. The heart of a clown must be soft and tender, even fragile, in order to contain a warmness and deep affection for people that compels him to do anything within his power to make them happy.
“Therefore, with such a light heart, when someone does something to hurt him, it hurts him many times more than it would a--if you’ll excuse the expression-- normal person. He must know the feeling of physical pain, mental anguish, frustration, and the feeling of being a lost soul searching, trying desperately for things to come out right, and thereby hangs the secret. Nothing is more amusing to a person than to see another being, looking very much like somebody they know, have seen, or would like to have seen this happen to, in a particular awkward situation that is funny to everyone but the one involved, who is trying desperately to regain his dignity, but becoming more entangled than ever in his predicament. This is the jest of the jester.
“He is actually playing himself, and the laughter that this provokes proves to be the reward that he eagerly accepts. The normal, every day problems that everyone experiences make a deeper impression on the clown who can portray and magnify them naturally, provoking much needed laughter from a world of people who have in one way or another, experienced these same situations, and, realizing that they are not alone in their problems, give out a relief-giving laugh as they see themselves as the buffoon.
“The clown really acts as an exaggerated mirror in which the people see themselves, and so be it. Prompted by the jester, the world is actually laughing at itself, and as long as this spirit among people can prevail, the world’s tensions will be held at a minimum. This is why we must have laughter.
“However, we need to get back on track,” God continued, “what happened then?”
“At that time, Master,” said the angel, “You…feeling that the world needed brightening, commanded us to design a very special kind of clown. A clown that would enjoy doing work for us down there more than work for which he could gain material things. We worked throughout the night. We blended the ingredients carefully, just the right touch of sadness and frustration, then a big dose of love for everyone.
“By the time the sun had circled the earth once, this clown was completed and sent down to earth as, Dan Kerr. We then took the mold, and knowing we could never make another like him, threw the mold away.
“Exactly as scheduled, Dan became a clown known by the world as Dan “Pappy” Kerr. He also served in the United States Navy as a cook. During the meat shortage, Pappy created the first, “meatless hamburger,” using oatmeal and it was a big success. That accomplishment was even spotlighted in Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, in newspapers throughout the world. He was loved by his shipmates, and by the public for his clown work, as well as by his fellow performers."
The Lord added; "Yes, and Pappy was so busy and happy in his work that I left him on his own for awhile and concentrated myself on world problems that needed my attention--trying to get the Arabs and Jews to be friends...politiicians to stop cheating ...newspapers to print the truth... gas prices to go down...and then Iran started acting up which they are still doing. Blast this world I've created anyway! Sometimes I feel like telling them all to go straight to Satan's domain!"
The angels were taken back, quite shocked at the Lord's frankness. "Whoa!" one of them inadvertently sputtered.
“It has come to my attention that the old sailor and clown now has a serious need,” The Lord said, “so I have work to do. You, my chief guardian angel,” He indicated by pointing to the head angel, “normally would be sent down to supervise things in a case such as this. However, I consider this much too important for anyone to handle but myself, so I am commanding you to run things for me up here while I am away. Pappy found great favor with me. He made the world laugh…and…he was a military man! Now it is time for him to receive his reward. And I am going down there to guide him personally.”
At that, the Lord disappeared in a flash with a breeze that again rearranged the clouds. The angels straightened up with a look of confidence and certainty knowing that with God being in Pappy's life, everything would turn out well.
Then they went back to work, molding men and women out of mud, putting them on the assembly line, and every so often, turning one a bit sideways.
Copyright by Rev. Austin Miles
When Rev. Austin Miles was first ordained, he was given an assignment as, “Chaplain to Show business.” where he met and worked with many performing artists like Pappy Kerr. Now working in Northern California, he can be seen dashing to and from appointments and services throughout the California Bay Area. And he has a special love for veterans.
