Author Archives: malcolmsmusingscom

My musing is late today. I’ve had a succession of conversations, good and bad news, trivial inconsequential stuff, difficult situations and life changing events. Some I’m still processing… I return to Forrest Gump: ‘My momma always said, ‘Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.’ Life was like aContinue reading “Today’s Box of Chocolates”

Both of my grandfathers died before I was born. My two grandmothers always seemed very old and very religious. One gave me my first Bible with ‘Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding,’ written in her spidery writing inside the front cover. The other would never letContinue reading “Grandparents”

On last night’s local news – a lady who lives just outside Ipswich has won a million pounds on the lottery. This very pleasant, ordinary, dinner lady at a local school was interviewed with her husband. The questions were predictable – how she discovered she’d won, how she felt, what they were going to doContinue reading “Getting What You Deserve”

I’ve heard many church sermons; few have been about the strange tale of Samson and Delilah… Strength: Samson’s known for his physical strength – killing a lion with his bare hands, killing 1000 Philistines with a donkey’s jaw-bone, carrying the city gates on his shoulders… Despite phenomenal physical strength his moral judgements, emotional stability, socialContinue reading “Samson and Delilah”

I am not a stranger to the darkHide away, they say‘Cause we don’t want your broken partsI’ve learned to be ashamed ofall my scarsRun away, they sayNo one will love you as you are In ‘The Greatest Showman’ Barnum holds a party for the great and good. He excludes his circus ‘freaks’ – he’s embarrassedContinue reading “This is Me”

Yesterday was Census day. I filled in my name, family, address, education, health, work, religion, ethnicity, sexual identity… This morning I read the story of Jephthah (Judges 11). His census form would include… Family: ‘His father was Gilead, his mother was a prostitute’. Address:  he ‘fled from his brothers and settled in Tob’ . Occupation:Continue reading “Census, Jephthah and Mirrors”

What’s wrong with the world, mama?People livin’ like they ain’t got no mamasI think the whole world’s addicted to the dramaOnly attracted to things that’ll bring the trauma The Black Eyed Peas song ‘Where is the love?’ was on ‘The Voice’ last night… …Meghan and Harry… Either they’re spoilt rich kids causing trouble; with noContinue reading “Where is the love?”

…In, out, in, out,You shake it all about.You do the Hokey Cokey and you turn aroundThat’s what it’s all about… If the Hokey Cokey is what it’s all about…. What is it all about? …In, out, shaking and turning. Life’s varied – in and out, up and down, close and distant; shaking things about –Continue reading “The Hokey Cokey”

When a knight won his spurs in the stories of oldHe was gentle and brave he was gallant and bold.With a shield on his arm and a lance in his handFor God and for valour he rode through the land. There have always been battles and wars – so this metaphor is well used andContinue reading “When A Knight Won His Spurs”

Yesterday our grand-daughter Hannah was 16. The usual presents, cake, balloons… sadly the family could only join on Zoom. Hannah’s ‘growing up’…!…? Last week I read ‘Pinocchio’. The book’s not like the Disney film about a cute little boy. Like other 19th century children’s books it’s a mixture of weird nonsense, talking animals and aContinue reading “Hannah, Growing Up, and Pinocchio”