Author Archives: malcolmsmusingscom

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”

I enjoyed my usual Saturday morning prayer/meditation walk on the beach. There was a sharp frost; the sun rose over a calm sea. Beautiful, relaxing, routine… I return to Deuteronomy. Moses says: ‘When you are in the land the Lord your God is giving you, someone may be found murdered in a field, and youContinue reading “Disturbed by the Unexpected…”

Musing… Deuteronomy ‘For instance, a man may go into the forest with his neighbour to cut wood and as he swings his axe to fell a tree the head may fly off and hit his neighbour and kill him. That man may flee to one of these cities and save his life.’ (19:5) ‘Cities ofContinue reading “Cities of Refuge… Places of Safety.”

We have 3 compost bins. On Monday I emptied bin 3, spreading rich, brown, well-rotted compost around the garden – roses, fruit bushes, vegetable plot… On Tuesday I transferred the contents of bin 2 into bin 3. It’s been standing there some time but isn’t ready yet. I’ll use it in the autumn. Yesterday IContinue reading “Compost Lessons”

Yesterday we were invited to Gordon and Heather’s house celebrating Gordon’s 90th birthday. We spent an enjoyable afternoon with ‘old’ friends, celebrating with tea, cake, laughter, stories, memories… The Archbishop of Canterbury planted a fig tree at Lambeth Palace, celebrating The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee: ‘The beauty of trees reminds us of our responsibility to careContinue reading “Celebrating… with Gordon, Justin, Kate and Cat”

Today’s date: ‘all the twos’! 2 be or not 2 be… Shakespeare: To be, or not to be, that is the question:Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to sufferThe slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,And by opposing end them: to die, to sleepNo more; and by aContinue reading “22.2.22”

Last night’s television was about waiting… In ‘Call the Midwife’… waiting for a baby’s birth… waiting to see who’d survive the rail crash. On the news… waiting to see what will happen in Ukraine… homes waiting for power to be restored following Storm Eunice… waiting to see the effects of Storm Franklin… Sitting in theContinue reading “Sitting in the Waiting Room”