Emphasis Preaching Journal

Søren Kierkegaard was a man who posed a gift of storytelling that has long imprinted unforgettable images on our minds. In concentrated form, his parables try to accomplish what his entire authorship sought namely: to entice -- even seduce -- his readers into a more profound awareness of God. Here is a summary of one of his stories titled "The Happy Conflagration." It happened that a fire broke out backstage in a theater. The clown came out to inform the public. They thought it was a jest and applauded. He repeated his warning, they shouted even louder.