Four Geese and a Clown : Washington Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Federal Way WA

Four Geese and a Clown

By Doug Bing, Washington Conference president

In May 1845, in the town of Yarmouth, a clown from a local circus wanted to draw attention to the show. To do so, he devised a plan that was advertised on flyers throughout the town. The plan? To sail down the river in a bathtub pulled by four geese.

It may sound like slow-moving entertainment, but in the days before television, radio, and the internet, this unusual stunt caused quite a stir. Many townspeople gathered to see the spectacle. The event started off well enough — the geese were doing their job, and the man was slowly moving toward the finish line.

However, as the clown in the bathtub neared a suspension bridge close to the end of the course, many spectators crowded onto it for a better view. The bridge, not built to hold such a large crowd, suddenly gave way, plunging hundreds into the river. Seventy-nine people were killed, the vast majority of them children. What began as lighthearted entertainment turned into tragedy as lives were abruptly cut short.

Today, we live in a world overflowing with entertainment.

We have the Mariners entertaining us with a run toward the World Series. We have football, soccer, theater, concerts, television, the internet, and countless other diversions — all moving much faster than a clown in a bathtub. There is nothing wrong with enjoying life, finding joy, and even laughter in this world. Yet we must remain aware of the times and places in which we live.

Engineers could have warned the crowd on that bridge that it was unsafe. There could have been a warning.

In Matthew 24, Jesus describes signs of the end of the world. He said that in the last days, people would be living as they did in the time of Noah — eating, drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage — unaware and unprepared for what was coming. Noah faithfully shared the warning, but the distractions and entertainments of daily life were more attractive than the call to enter the ark.

Two lessons stand out as we reflect on this story. First, as we go about our routines and enjoy the good things of life, we must remain aware of the times in which we live — watching, listening, and living for an eternal future rather than the fleeting pleasures of the moment. Second, we should share this awareness with others, helping them live not just for today, but for the eternal life offered through Jesus.