Some days I get weary of the world of politics, religion and sport, that emphasises differences, requires confrontation, leads to conflict and divides us into winners and losers…
I read three things that inspired me yesterday…
Seagull Theatre Document by Des Reynolds: In ongoing discussions about our local theatre, we’re aware of local problems and challenges: ‘Economic inequality, poor health outcomes, social isolation and unequal access to opportunity continue to affect many people across Lowestoft and the surrounding area…’
We’re discussing clear positive aspects of our work… quality, sustainability, stability, relationships, building on success, providing solutions… A long document concludes that our aim is: ‘Improving excellence, strengthening resilience, transforming communities’
Letter from Kang-San Tan: The General Director of the Baptist Missionary Society World Mission was reflecting on the Bible story of Ruth ‘…how God often advances his Kingdom through ordinary people who trust his hidden providence and who practice hesed – a Hebrew word meaning unfailing love and loving-kindness.
Stating that, ‘God calls us to loving hesed relationships.’ He concludes ‘…the Kingdom of God often advances not through spectacle, but through sustained hesed loving-kindness.’
The Rosary by Florence Barclay: In this novel, handsome artist Garth Dalmain states, ‘The worship of beauty is to me a religion.’
When challenged, he explains, ‘All true beauty comes from God and leads back to God… I am convinced that all true beauty is God-given, and that is why the worship of beauty is to me a religion. Nothing bad was ever truly beautiful; nothing good is ever truly ugly.’
Musing… Improved excellence, strong resilience, transformed community, hesed lovingkindness, God-given beauty…
Returning… To St Paul’s words: ‘Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.’
Starting… To find the antidote to our weary world of differences, confrontation, conflict and division.
malcolmsmusings.org 
‘Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.’
Wonderful words. I think the four religions of India, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism would also agree with those words.
And I would hope to be able to. Unfortunately thinking is often harder than acting upon.
But I hope we try.
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You’re right, Alan. Thoughts aren’t the same as actions. I guess our daily challenge is to be consistent in our thoughts, words and actions related to the noble, pure, lovely….
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I try to avoid any discussion about politics because the topic and arguments that ensue are too painful.
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So how do we, as good Christian people, express our opinions well and show that we can disagree well? It’s not easy. I take the view that we have to try….
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What an intriguing collection of work.
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I love to ask questions – seeing things in a different way, trying to give my faith a different expression, see different links.
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Dicsussions of politics, religion or sport can turn normally docile souls into raving lunatics in a flash.
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What sometimes upsets me is that the worst I’ve known have been Christians – who think they have a God-given monopoly on being right,
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That type of self-righteousness doesn’t help the situation at all.
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