A fair question: the power of clowning and worship

I was stopped by the police one night in Marin country in full clown costume. I was walking through a very healthy neighborhood praying. Turns out I was praying just near the seminary I was attending. I was working part time as a clown, and part time a nude model at the Art Institute to work my way creatively through seminary.

They asked me why I was in a clown costume wandering around mumbling to myself. A fair question.

I told them I attended the seminary, and was doing some type of holy performance that night. They went back to their cars, and I’m still not sure what they looked up on their on-board computers, but eventually after what seemed like a long space of time, they returned, and said one of the neighbors had called about suspicious behavior.

For some reason, i responded by saying, “prayer is suspicious.” Maybe not my smartest police response in my life. They returned to their car.

After another few minutes, they determined that I was indeed taking a few classes at the seminary, but they were uncertain where I was living. Well, I’ve  made an art studio on campus for those who need to create, officer.

After that, he just said, can you please keep your spiritual creative activities on campus sir. Yes sir, I’ll do my best.

On another occasion, i was worshiping in Oakland—hands up in the air and listening to loud praise on the car stereo. Two officers approached and asked what I was doing. I am worshiping. They took me in that night. I only had my bible with me. You have a warrant out, the one said, who seemed to feel bad about it.

Not until after a night in jail did i learn that i had an outstanding parking ticket. So I was not technically being taken in for worshiping.

That night in jail, i met a recently saved, chinese man with the entire Isaiah 53 passage about Christ, tattooed on his back. He guarded my bed as I slept.

Then, i met an african man named Derrick and told him why I was “in”. His heart lit up, and we talked for hours about who Jesus is. I had a dream that night, in which God said, “I am letting you taste what others will eat.” I felt safe and sad when i awoke in the Oakland jail that morning.

One of those nights! But, never underestimate the power of a clown suit or worshiping in public.