Author Archives: malcolmsmusingscom

Yesterday we met up with our friends Tim and Jill… drinking coffee, walking through spring woodlands, beside South Walsham Broad… sitting in bird hides, watching a variety of birds… talking about our families, our churches The sun shone. It was peaceful. All was good. Coming home to the Ukraine news… deaths, distress, injustice… ongoing battles…Continue reading “The Battle of Peace?”

Random musings… This morning I chose to put on my ‘Dreading Monday’ socks. I confess… recently I chose to wear my ‘Neary There Thursday’ socks on a Friday… Yesterday I was talking to Paul… How does he teach, help, encourage his 11-year-old daughter to make good choices?… I continue to frustrate myself with the poorContinue reading “Making Good Choices”

Like a bridge over troubled waterI will lay me down This last week we’ve seen much troubled water… guns, bombs, destruction… anxious families leaving home, seeking safety… fear-full, insecure, uncertain, victims of war… We need national leaders seeking peace not war… justice and reconciliation, not death and destruction. Our world needs a Bridge Over TroubledContinue reading “Bridge over Troubled Water”

Tantalus was a Greek mythological figure, who upset the Gods. His punishment was to stand in a pool of water beneath a luscious fruit tree with low branches. When he reached up to pick fruit it moved away; when he bent down to have a drink the water moved away.  Food and drink was thereContinue reading “Tantalus… Tantalising”

We enjoyed a day in London yesterday… using buses as all underground stations were closed… visiting the British Museum… and watching the excellent Mary Poppins. The stage show is much better than the film! One of its main themes is how children should be brought up… how they relate to adults – especially their parentsContinue reading “Sugar or Brimstone?”

Yesterday I visited Paul. ‘Can you help me with my guitar playing please?’ Paul’s elderly fingers aren’t as flexible as he would like them to be. We strummed out a few old Elvis songs and sung them together… Are you lonesome tonightDo you miss me tonight?Are you sorry we drifted apart?… Earlier in the weekContinue reading “Lonesome Tonight-ness”

Today’s Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent… traditionally a period of abstinence… giving up chocolate, alcohol, or some other pleasure… The more radical Christian tradition is that it’s the start of a tough disciplined journey of prayer and fasting… a time to ‘confess sins, correct faults, purify hearts, control desires and grow in holiness’.Continue reading “Ash Wednesday… Time for Preparation?”

The Office for National Statistics: ’Shrinkflation is a term used to describe the process of a product’s size being reduced while its price remains the same…’ I’ve been aware of ‘shrinkflation’ when looking at chocolate bars, drink bottles… Musing… The Shrinkflation Mentality Today’s Shrove Tuesday. Its name comes from the Christian principle of ‘shriving’: aContinue reading “Shrinkflation Mentality”

Each news bulletin is full of the latest from Ukraine. In church we’ve prayed for Ukraine. The current situation and the anticipated future is discussed in homes, cafés, and work-places across the country, across the world… Random brief musings… Foreigners… It’s easy to think that this situation is in a far-away country with far-away people.Continue reading “Ukraine Musings”

I pray you’ll be our eyes, and watch us where we goAnd help us to be wise in times when we don’t knowLet this be our prayer, when we lose our way. This morning… there are huge global needs – especially in Ukraine… friends have significant concerns… I have my personal needs. This song givesContinue reading “The Prayer”