You Never Know
Tonight we had a pot luck dinner. It was made for us by the families of Kibbutz Moran (and included the best challah bread I’ve ever had). We are sleeping— all of us— on the floor of the kibbutz’ new community hall where we just did our show.
In the summers of 1974 and 1975, I toured with a group called The Circus Kingdom. This wonder-full little show was a youth circus run by Rev. David Harris and his wife, Trudy. Rev. Dave was a Methodist minister who gathered youth circus performers from around the country to tour the Eastern half of the United States. Wherever we performed, we would also do a show for people who could not come to us— a senior citizens’ home, a prison, or a home for the mentally ill. We were often sponsored by local churches and fed pot luck suppers by the congregation. In many towns, we slept on the floor of the church fellowship hall. Tonight so reminds me of those days. I could not have predicted then that I would be giving such a similar experience to other children in another country decades later.
Earlier today, we skyped with two Arches who came to Israel in 2007 and 2010, Keaton and Iking. A few moments ago, I saw Iking had posted this on Facebook: Just re-watched the documentary CIRCUS KIDS and “WOW” I have so much to be thankful for. I was so closed minded back then and I didn’t take in that experience like I should have. But man that was an amazing trip, so many great memories…I really do miss those arches days .
Iking just graduated from Ecole National du Cirque and is in the creation phase of the newest Seven Fingers show. I am certain his experience in Israel with us helped make it possible for him to attend school in a foreign country. I know the journeys he took with the Arches will serve him well as he tours the world with his new troupe.
We rarely recognize how important certain people, events or experiences are in our lives until we are way past them. As I write this, I keep shushing the young people here who are far from sleepy. I remember my nights sleeping on a floor in a group. I really didn’t realize that what I did then was going to play such a large part in my adult life. Nor could I have foretold the impact that experience would end up having on other people through me!
You can see a trailer of the movie CIRCUS KIDS at:
It is will be available soon on the Circus Harmony website.