Author Archives: malcolmsmusingscom

David Ksieniewicz was golfing in South Carolina last week. His shot landed on an alligator lying near a pond. The alligator didn’t move… Golf-playing friends make excuses; I don’t recall any being alligator-related! Apparently the U.S. Golf Association rule book makes allowances for alligators: ‘Rule 16 covers when and how the player may take freeContinue reading “On Top of the World”

A year ago I started a blog, 300-320 words each day. It wouldn’t be a nice, cheery, Christian thought for the day, nor an evangelistic, preachy Bible study containing comfortable or familiar clichés. My friends are Christian, sort-of-Christian, used-to-be-Christian and definitely-not-Christian. Conversations usually start with the ordinary, everyday, personal, humorous or sad… They may thenContinue reading “Lessons of Musing”

I’ve written my daily ‘Malcolm’s Musings’ for a year. It seems a good time to review… I retired from teaching in 2008, grateful that I was still (relatively!) fit. There were problems and challenges at home and church but life was good. I took on additional responsibilities in church, studied (MTh in Applied Theology) andContinue reading “Musings Anniversary”

Last week we watched the Robin Williams film ‘Patch Adams’. Based on a true story it tells the story of trainee-doctor ‘Patch Adams’. Rebelling against the cold, soulless methods of his training, Patch upsets the hospital authorities by bringing joy and laughter to the sick and dying, and demonstrating warm-hearted compassion. He says: ‘If youContinue reading “Priorities: Patch, Geoff and Solomon”

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?Were you there when they crucified my Lord?Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.Were you there when they crucified my Lord? I first heard this old African-American spiritual when I was a child. I answered, ‘No’. My literal, childish brain was right… For as long asContinue reading “Were You There?”

Over the last 24 hours there have been a succession of written and spoken tributes paid to HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. His life of selfless service, pursuit of integrity, sense of duty and hard work have been recognised and commended. His willingness to stay out of the limelight and be the ‘unsung hero’,Continue reading “The Duke of Edinburgh”

Today’s Lowestoft Journal discusses the ‘controversial plans to replace the beach huts on Lowestoft seafront’ : ‘The plans have divided opinion among locals, with some branding the designs “hideous” and “too modern”  while others say they are “beautiful” and “just what Lowestoft needs”.’ Then there’s the plans for the third river crossing. My friend JackContinue reading “Future Planning”

Many years ago I visited a colleague headteacher in his school. Spud Murphy was a good, well respected head, with a quirky sense of humour. I watched Spud take school assembly, telling the story of Mr Smith and Mr Jones. Both lived by the seaside; each built a house – one on a sand foundation,Continue reading “Resilient”

Yesterday I was talking to a friend, I’ll call her Megan. After many years of denial, shame and hoping that it would go away she has finally faced up to the fact that she has an addiction. She has a Christian faith, so she sees God as part of her recovery; it’s also demanding effortContinue reading “The Life I Never Led”

On Sunday we had our Easter Service in the church garden  The question was: ‘Will the weather stay fine?’ It did. A neighbour politely asked the band, practicing before the service: ‘Will you be quiet, please?’ We weren’t. The garden question after the service – socially distanced, masked, but singing, was ‘Did that go well?’Continue reading “Garden Questions”