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When I was a kid, I wanted to run away and join the circus – a place where all things glittered and everything seemed perfect. In the center of all of it was the ringmaster, shouting out the next event. Of course almost every child feels that way once they’ve attended the big top, but it’s just an entertaining place to escape for a while.

That dream actually came true when I had the opportunity to work with the Cirque du Soliel as a voice coach a while ago. I was to work with one of the clowns who would be planted in the audience as a Minnesotan and brought on stage to act the buffoon. This was quite a task. In my 40 something years living in this state, I’ve never really acquired the dialect that seems so popular, except for an occasional “Ooh, Yah” or “dontchya know.” I’m from Wisconsin and we don’t talk like that.

I worked with this young man for a few weeks before the show went up. He was an Argentinian by birth whose English had been influenced by his French Canadian coworkers. Things went along well for a few days, but in rehearsals his voice always maintained the nasal quality often associated with the French.

One day it finally occurred to me. During the sketch, he was brought on stage and introduced to the audience. They placed a red nose on him and proceeded with the bit. Obviously the nose was impairing his speech. Once we adjusted the fake nose, he spoke perfect Minnesotan.

I learned two lessons from that incident. First, never look beyond your own nose for answers and don’t run away to join the circus. I was given two free passes to the show when it opened and, if you’ve ever been to one of their productions, you know what a gift that was.

Life can be a circus. There are clowns everywhere, wonderfully skilled athletes, beautiful costumes and lighting and music that enchants, but most of the time it’s pretty ordinary. We look for things to entertain, to help us forget about the hum drum, to escape for a while. However, reality always creeps back in and we realize there are still struggles, anxieties and messes that can’t be swept under the rug.

Fortunately God is in charge of every minute of it. Unlike the ringmaster – simply organizing and introducing another fantastic diversion – God has orchestrated every moment of our lives. He’s also with us through the long haul and even after death.

We can’t run away or hide from the ugliness of the world, but with Him our life can be so much more exciting and fulfilling. He makes it all worth living.