Human beings have always relied on stories, symbols, and metaphors to make sense of life’s deeper truths. Across centuries, poets, theologians, and philosophers have turned to vivid imagery to explain how we think, why we act the way we do, and what happens when we refuse to confront reality. One of the most unforgettable examples comes from the 19th-century Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard, who painted a scene so simple, yet so haunting, that it continues to resonate with urgency today. Kierkegaard tells the story of a theater where a fire suddenly breaks out backstage. To warn the audience, the clown—already…