Hi Shug, I found this on American Prophet [americanprophet.org] a Former Ringmaster's Take on Circus Closure by Rev Austin Miles, January 18, 2017. The full article is similar to yours, you may wish to read it. Keep us smiling, Ian.
It made me think of you.
The PRAYER of A Clown
Dear Lord:
HELP ME TO, Cause more smiles than frowns---
Create more laughter than tears--
Scatter more sunshine than rain--
Dispense more happiness than gloom---
Spread more cheer than despair---
CONTINUE TO GIVE ME: The privilege of entertaining orphans, under-privileged kids and crippled children. And withdraw not the special blessing I've always received for doing this work.
CONTINUE TO GIVE ME, The opportunity of working with the small fry of every race, creed and color, and the use of this opportunity to try and encourage them to help make a better world in which to live.
NEVER LET ME, Know fame or fortune to the extent that I will forget or neglect my friends.
NEVER LET ME, Grow so big that I will fail to see the wonder in the eyes of a child or the twinkle in the eyes of the aged.
NEVER LET ME, Forget that I AM A CLOWN and a member of an old and honored profession, and should be a credit to that profession by forever striving to keep Clowning on a high and decent level where it rightfully belongs.
NEVER LET ME, Forget that my work is to try and cheer people up, make them happy and make them laugh. make them forget momentarily all the unpleasant things in their lives.
NEVER LET ME, Acquire financial success to the point where I will discontinue calling upon my Creator in the hour of need, or acknowledging Him in the hour of plenty.
I AM THANKFUL FOR, Being a part of, and having a part in, the one great entertainment the entire family can enjoy, the one great entertainment that has never needed a censor--THE CIRCUS.
I AM THANKFUL FOR, Having found my work, a work in which I take great pleasure and in which I grow in happiness and satisfaction.
I AM THANKFUL FOR, The reputation I have of being able to repeat on any date ever worked.
I AM THANKFUL FOR, The million safe and non-accident miles I've traveled.
The million people I've appeared before;
The million laughs I've had in "Clown Alley."
"Bless all Clowns and Circus Troupers wherever they may be, protect and watch over us and forgive our mistakes. Help us all to give our very best performance right up to the final curtain. And, when we join the assembly in the backyard of heaven to make "SPEC" for through-out eternity, let not one member of our profession be absent when the whistle blows." Amen
by Dan "PAPPY" Kerr.