Davyman's Journal

People look at me and see a somewhat successful father, husband, father, pastor and author and  never dreamed the depth of pain that resides underneath my smile at times.  It's like the story about a guy that went to see a therapist complaining of being so smothered in depression that he couldn't seem to shake it.  The therapist talked awhile and at the conclusion he said, “I’ll tell you what, why don’t you go to the circus and see Clarence the clown perform.  I’ve seen him and I can guarantee you that this guy is so funny that he will help you get your mind off your troubles and put you in a better state of mind.”  The man looked at the therapist and said, "But doctor I AM Clarence, the clown!”  This goes to show you that people you are sure have it all together may not and probably don’t.  The rich and the poor, the intelligent and the not so intelligent, the life of the party and the with-drawn intorverts all can suffer depression, personal conflicts and invisible pain that reside underneath their smiles.