Thursday, October 9, 2008

I Need a Rodeo Clown

I need a rodeo clown. A rodeo clown and a rodeo announcer. One to cover for me, to attract the attention of the bull away, putting himself between a charging bull and the stunned rider on the ground. One to yell at me, over the loudspeaker.

We watched one summer, a bull rider get bucked off, but his hand did not come loose from the rope around the bull. So he flapped around by his hand tied onto a 2,000lb angry bull. Here we saw the clown and the announcer working together to save the rider. The clown jumped in, circling, getting closer, distracting the bull. A few other clowns joined in, each trying to get close enough to pull that rope which would loosen the rider's hand. Covering for each other, getting the bull's attention off those close to him, putting their bodies between the bull and the weaker ones.

Then the announcer. He dropped all his showman's voice, stopped talking to the watching crowd, stopped telling how great the rider was or what was his nickname or credentials. Instead, in a very firm, commanding voice, he said, "Hang on, son, stay on your feet. Stay on your feet son, we're coming for you!" And the rider tried. It was a voice which made you pull everything you had in you out in an effort to obey it. He bounced around for awhile, but then he went limp. Again, the announcer was very calm and insistent, "Son, wake up, get back on your feet. We're right here with you!"

Finally, a clown got close enough to pull that rope, which let the passed out rider slide to the floor in a motionless heap. Another clown jumped between him and the bull again, yelling and hitting the bull in the face before jumping away. The enraged bull chased the clown, and the other clowns grabbed the rider and dragged him to safety. At the rails, the rider lifted his head slightly. Only then, did the crowd let out its breath and begin to make noise... but not before the announcer's voice came through in a relieved sigh, "Thank-you Jesus!"

I need a rodeo clown and an announcer today. Someone cover for me and someone yell at me. I'm not staying on my feet.


I think the last picture says it well.

5 comments:

Unknown said...

I waited patiently for the LORD
and He turned to me and heard my cry for help.
He brought me up from a desolate PIT,
out of the muddy clay,
and set my feet on a ROCK, making my steps secure.
Praying always...

Alan & Beth McManus said...

Psalm 18:

" . . . the cords of death entangled me . . . the floods of ungodliness made me afraid . . . the snares of death confronted me . . . In my distress I called up on the Lord . . . He heard my voice . . . then the earth shook and trembled . . . smoke went up from his nostrils . . . He bowed the Heavens also and came down . . . the Lord thundered from heaven . . . He drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy . . .

Hang on, honey. Stay on your feet. We're right here with you.

Rebecca Conduff Aguirre said...

I love the verses that cindy and beth shared! I love the psalms, period! I've spent the majority of my time there in the last few months, in fact...hang in there! I believe that God will bless you and your family as you seek to follow His heart...yesterday I started Beth Moore's Patriarch study along with some other ladies. I love Beth Moore! But anyway, she said something interesting (well, she always says lots of interesting things)...that God chose to tell the history of a nation through individuals...she pointed out that my life is meant to be a great story...but that easy lives don't make good stories! I appreciate her saying that because I know some of her background and it wasn't easy...anyway, an interesting thought. praying for you...

Sarah DeSalvo said...

I don't know why it took me this long to find your blog, since you have been commenting on mine for a while. Sorry about that!

Sounds like you are having a rough time of it. Will be praying for you. Know that the Lord will lift you up and encourage you. Blessings.

Anonymous said...

"I lift my eyes unto the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth!" A verse AND a [Casting Crowns] song for ya. :) Praying for you, too. I've been at rodeos where the situation wasn't that dire, but I could sure imagine them. Rodeo clowns are great, but the rider still has to tough it out for awhile. Your help is coming and is probably on the way; hang in there.
-Lisa