Crawford has recently released a short-story format book, “Mud Hen in a Peacock Parade: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Heaven” in which he recounts funny events that occurred during his growing up years, and during his time around churchgoers.
He explains the title, which came about when he was asked to give the invocation and benediction at graduation ceremonies for the University of Texas at Austin.
“My place in the processional was between the speaker and the president of the University of Texas. They each had several academic degrees, so their robes were adorned with many colors. We were followed by the university’s faculty members adorned in their robes of many colors,” he writes. “I had not yet completed my doctor’s degree, so I marched in a black robe, with black hat. Someone commented that I looked like a mud hen in a peacock parade.”
Crawford illustrates tale after tale of those days when kids didn’t wear bike helmets and those small towns where pastors were paid in canned goods. He talks of childhood stories, such as the time his mother suddenly surprised him and his friend who were playing a game of cops and robbers.
He fondly recalls incidents of boyhood pranks and misfortunes at church camps and Wednesday evening activities, including a time when his friend, then-future governor of Texas, nearly kicked a football through a church window.
Crawford says he understands that while difficult circumstances can’t simply be laughed away, he believes God created each person with a need to laugh in order to keep the body and soul healthy.
“One key to success is a healthy sense of humor,” Crawford said. “So, as you read the book, laugh at me, but learn to laugh at your own circumstances. It beats crying.”
After graduating from seminary and beginning a full-time vocational ministry, Crawford realized that things he said and stories he told in the pulpit and the classroom made people laugh.
“I discovered that I was funny,” he said. “Then I realized that an unusual number of humorous things happened to me, around me, because of me, etc.”
The book came about as he started writing those incidents down, passing them along to friends and sharing them in public places where he was speaking.
“People laughed and I kept it up,” he said. “One day I had enough funny experiences to compile them into a book.”
Citing numerous examples of laughter in the Bible, he believes Jesus laughed with his disciples during His time on earth.
Crawford said there is a lighter side to spirituality that can be used in communicating greater truths.
“Most of the time we take spirituality seriously and rightly so. It is serious business, but there is also a lighter side,” he said. “If I can win and soften an audience with humor, I can better communicate a spiritual truth or at least they are more prone to listen to the spiritual truth - anethesize them with humor before attempting spiritual surgery.”
Crawford is senior professor of evangelism and missions, chair of prayer, emeritus, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, and author/compiler of 17 books including, “God’s Formula for Genuine Happiness” and “Giving Ourselves to Prayer.” He and his wife, Joanne, are retired and living in Fort Worth.
