Do You Enjoy the Circus?

Some days are easier than others. Most days, I find people very easy to deal with and then there are those other days. I don’t know about you, but I have a string of days where it just seems as if everybody rubs me the wrong way. I have to remind myself that the Word says that “as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” I should be able to sew without a needle at this point; that’s how pointy I should be from all the sharpening in my life.

The truth of the matter is there are a lot of clowns running around in the world and I don’t find them very amusing. So then I have to ask myself why am I spending so much time at the circus, and I don’t have an answer for that. Try as I might to surround myself with mature and intelligent people, the clowns and jokers keep finding their way into my atmosphere. It’s frustrating and exhausting.

As much grace as I try to share, I find myself becoming abrasive towards them after a while. Can anyone relate? I wonder if other people consider me a clown in their circumstances. I certainly pray not. I try to be as reasonable as possible but it causes me to wonder if my logic comes across as foolishness to others. Since not all clowns wear make up, I wonder if they realize how foolish they seem.

When you’ve received much grace, you are expected to show as much grace. I have to remind myself of that fact every time the clowns show up. It’s difficult most days but clowns are in abundance and I don’t think they’re going to go away anytime soon. If you find yourself surrounded by them, walk away whenever possible. When you can’t, be as gracious as you can and purpose in your heart not to be a fool or a joker in someone else’s life. Pray and make sure that your logic is not foolishness in the eyes of someone else. The Bible tells us that “there is a way that seems right to a fool, but in the end it leads to death.”

Clowns can’t get in without an invitation or a key. Check the signals you may be sending out. We who know better are called to do better. Perhaps by example we can show those who are in error how to correct their mistakes. We’ll never do it by condemning them but we can by correcting them in love.