At our local Men’s Shed, men with different backgrounds, family situations, opinions, life-skills… do stuff, talk, drink tea, eat bacon rolls… Yesterday I read a brief Men’s Shed history… 30+ years ago some guys came together in an old garage in Australia. A crazy experiment!
‘…When they arrived there were mowers to fix, lots of tools and large pots of coffee.
Day one went by with little talking, no fixing but all the coffee was gone, day two more talking still no fixing, day three more talking, a little laughter and smiles when they left….
The experiment never ended… today there are over 1200 Men’s Sheds in Australia, 3000 across the world…’
Yesterday we saw ‘War Horse’ in Norwich – the stage production of the Michael Morpurgo book. It tells the story of Joey, a horse raised by English teenager Albert, bought by the British Army, and taken to the trenches of First World War France…
The publicity quotes ‘unforgettable theatrical experience… powerfully moving and imaginative drama… stirring music and songs… phenomenal inventiveness…’ On this occasion they’re accurate.
In 2006, director, Marianne Elliiott, said, ‘This is completely mad. It’s a wild story, the protagonist is a horse – that’s never going to work.’ The show started as a crazy experiment… There have been over 7,500 performances; more that 8.3 million people have seen the show.
I’m currently reading Romans, this morning reading chapter 8. St Paul outlines precious Christian truths:
‘…If God is for us, who can be against us?… I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord…’
What Jesus, His disciples started 2000 years ago… the crazy experiment of Christian faith… is still valued by and working for millions today.
Men’s Shed, War Horse, Christian Faith… Each started as crazy experiments… Each works for me!
malcolmsmusings.org 
I’ve never heard of a men’s shed, but am very familiar with “War Horse,”. The film was directed by Steven Speilberg, and is one of my favorites.
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There are Men’s Sheds in the US, Pete. My experience is that they are excellent for providing friendship for retired men. We started ours nine years ago. As for War Horse – Book, film and stage show are, in my view, all excellent.
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Feed my sheep — a crazy experiment started in 33 AD, and continuing to this day! Love-of-God driven.
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Certainly, Grant. If I’d planned it I wouldn’t have done it that way. Shows how much I know!!
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I love the history of the Men’s Shed, Malcolm! So delightful!
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What I love, Wynne, is that the experience of the men in Australia has been replicated by groups of men throughout the world.
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