Marmite or Marmalade?

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I’m unsettled…

…This morning I’m watching Donald Trump about to be elected President of the United States. Many folks are very happy. Democracy has spoken; America has chosen.

Some still have deep reservations about Trump – politically, morally, historically… Where does it leave them?

You have the choice: marmalade or marmite on your toast? You choose marmalade – but you have to eat marmite.  

Recently in conversation, three friends who I care about have presented me with their personal problems. I feel that I ought to help, but I fear that there may not be a solution; even if there is one it’s certainly beyond my control.

Marmalade or marmite? I watch powerless; their preference is misunderstood or ignored; they’re made to eat what they hate.

Yesterday I finished Alex Clare-Young’s ‘Trans Formations’. ‘Situated within a queer paradigm, this book presents the identities, insights and ideas of ten trans and non-binary Christians.’

Friends have strong opinions for or against Clare-Young’s position. Some would be unable to understand; some would choose not to; others would jump to immediate conclusions…

Marmalade and marmite? Some ask for a third option – peanut butter – that may or may not be possible; others see all mixed together in some inedible mess.

Whatever I choose or receive life goes on…

Big wheel keep on turning
Proud Mary keep on burning
Rolling, rolling, rolling on the river

John Fogarty’s song “Proud Mary” talks about life’s journey continuing… city life to a riverboat. …big wheel keeps on turning.

The Bible uses the picture of a rainbow and God’s promise: ‘As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.’

I’m still unsettled… perhaps unable to choose what’s on my toast… I can choose how I receive it… St Paul describes ‘love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control’.

Today whether I receive marmite, marmalade, peanut-butter or some inedible mixture I shall focus on receiving them with kindness, gentleness and self-control.

7 thoughts on “Marmite or Marmalade?”

  1. I’m not totally certain where you’re going with this, Bro, but I’ve never had Marmite, and now I’m intrigued.

    I do prefer orange marmalade on my toast or English muffin ever since I first tried it after reading a silly pun when I was in the 4th grade about a baby chick who came out of his shell to see an orange in the nest next to him and exclaimed, “Oh LOOK at the orange marmalade!”

    Today, I’ll have the left-over Chinese carryout from last night’s dinner for my breakfast.

    May God bless America . . . and England too!

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    2. A longer version of your joke is one of the ten grandad jokes I use to make grandchildren groan… Marmite is a very English product. The perceived wisdom with marmite is that you either love it or hate it… so a ‘marmite person’ is one that you either love or hate – no middle ground.

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  2. I cannot understand why so many English people get so animated about the election in the USA.

    How I tend to look at it that over half the voting population of the USA voted for him. I then think that hopefully most of them will be reasonably intelligent folks. So, democracy rules.

    In the UK we have a government that got less votes than the Labour party who stood at the last election and were soundly beaten. The Reform Party got more votes than the Lib. Dems. We can’t say we have a democratically elected government really can we? But, we were given the opportunity to change that in 2011 and decided that we prefer first past the post.

    I am not WOKE, todays’ interpretation anyway, so I will not say “if you don’t agree with me you must be wrong.” If someone disagrees with me I try to think “you’re an intelligent person. Let me try to understand your point of view.” I have to admit it can be very hard at times though.

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