Grimaldi

The circus is in town and one of the most exciting things about the circus for me is the clowns. How do so many of them fit into such a small car? I always laugh at some of the dumb things they do, but that's why they do them to get you to laugh. Have you ever heard of the name Joseph Grimaldi? He was more than likely the father of the clown world; if you were to ask any clown who Grimaldi was he would know for Grimaldi was the first modern clown. He made his audiences laugh, but they cried too. His style of clowning mirrored the complexities of the modern era. His father was strict and Grimaldi suffered severe beatings as a child. His life on stage began at the age of two. Around 1803 Joseph Grimaldi created the figure of "Joey". According to his biographer, Andrew McConnell Stott in The Pantomime Life of Joseph Grimaldi, Grimaldi worked intensively for days to perfect the look 'until finally a face emerged from the candlelight that bore a grin so incendiary it refused to be erased'. Grimaldi would bring tears to his audience's eyes by telling the tale of a man who went to see his doctor because he was feeling so sad. The doctor said, "You should go to see a performance by the great clown, Grimaldi. That will cheer you up", to which the response was, "But doctor, I am Grimaldi." Grimaldi understood tragedy. His first wife died after only eighteen months of marriage. His son from his second marriage was an alcoholic and died at an early age. Grimaldi retired in 1823, physically and mentally exhausted. He was virtually crippled and in his last years would spend his evening's quietly in The Marquis of Cornwallis pub in Pentonville. Grimaldi never lost his popularity and is a legend in the theatrical world. Every year on the first Sunday in February a memorial service is held for Grimaldi in Dalston, London.
Charles Dickens edited Grimaldi's memoirs. He remarked that, "The clown left the stage with Grimaldi and though often heard of, has never since been seen." The man who made everyone laugh was a very sad man. Did you see it as you read his story? Severe beatings as a child; correction yes severe beatings; never! Punishment sure! Whipping yes! But never severe beatings!

Proverbs 22:15
Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. His last years spent in a bar what happened or did he ever have what he wanted others to have so much "happiness." What about you and I are we happy? Or are we hanging on to an unforgiving heart for what someone or somebody did to us in our childhood or last week. Maybe it was something beyond our control like a death and we just can't let it go. We have all had things happen to us in our childhood that we wish we could change; but you know what? We can't! But we can do something about today and next week and next month or we can continue to hold on to those things we can do nothing about and continue to let them eat at us day by day. How will you end up and where will you spend your time and will you still be hanging on to whatever it is until you take your last breath. I hope not .

1John 1:6
If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: Forgive others, forgive yourself for as long as it's in the darkness the enemy will continue to use it to destroy your life.

Matthew 6:23
But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

John 8:12
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

John 12:46
I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. But you don't understand; yes I do understand! When I was nine years old something happened to me beyond my control that I kept in darkness for 47 years and the enemy had a hay day with it until I forgave those who did it to me and forgave myself and now I could care less who knows about it; why? Because it's out of darkness and I am free from its bondage. Life is too short to be unhappy and walk around in darkness. See you Monday and have a great weekend.