Author Archives: malcolmsmusingscom

My Dad was a very calm man, rarely excited or emotional. He was never the life and soul of the party, but he was good at organising children’s party games. He always led the games at our Sunday School Christmas parties, and, whilst Mum prepared the food, he would organise the games for our birthdayContinue reading “Spider’s Web”

We watched ‘Apostasy’, a film about devout Jehovah Witnesses. Sisters Alex and Luisa, and their mother Ivanna, attend all of the meetings at the local Kingdom Hall; they regularly go door-knocking to spread their faith. Luisa falls pregnant to a man at the college she attends. She is ‘dis-fellowshipped’ by her church and moves outContinue reading “Apostasy”

From heav’n You came, helpless BabeEntered our world, Your glory veiled;Not to be served but to serveAnd give Your life that we might live Last Sunday I heard someone talking about ‘serving one another’; I have been singing this song all week. This is our God, the Servant KingHe calls us now to follow HimToContinue reading “The Servant King”

The Secret Garden Reading Frances Hodgson Burnett’s ‘The Secret Garden’ I enjoyed the theme of ‘Magic’. This benevolent force behind nature changes the garden. As spring comes the garden is transformed from the cold deadness of winter to blossom, colour and life. This magic also transforms Mary and Colin from selfish, unhappy, lonely children toContinue reading “It’s Magic”

Yesterday the grandchildren came to tea. Polishing off his peach and pear crumble Zak announced, ‘This is one of the best two crumbles you’ve ever made, Granny.’ ‘So it’s only second best?’ ‘No. It could be the best, but you have made other great crumbles…’ Clever. It reminded me of a few weeks ago. AfterContinue reading “When is criticism effective?”

K.P. Yohannan Yesterday I read an article: ‘Why the ‘cure’ for Covid is far worse than the disease’ by K.P. Yohanna. Two extracts express his concerns:  ‘…Mumbai, a city with 20 million people and around 100,000 beggars. Suddenly there was a lockdown. Suddenly no passersby. No looks of compassion. No money. No food. Nothing. TheyContinue reading “K.P., Simon, and Paul on Death”

The sick vicar was encouraged by good news; the Women’s Guild decided to send him a gift and a get well card. Then he heard the bad news: the vote was 31-30. It seemed yesterday there was only bad news. There was the covid news about infection rates, deaths, unemployment, the economy, recession… There wasContinue reading “Bad News Good News”

Winning Earlier in the year we approached our coronavirus-world with determination; we would fight it and beat it together. We were proactive. We applauded the NHS; we extended our food banks; we visited neighbours; we delivered groceries; we created makeshift offices at home; we home-schooled our children… Rev Mark Rylands, an assistant bishop in Devon, bought an oldContinue reading “Winning, Waiting and Wondering”

In my wrestling and in my doubtsIn my failures You won’t walk outYour great love will lead me throughYou are the peace in my troubled sea… We sung ‘My Lighthouse’ by Rend Collective in church a few years ago; I’ve started singing it again recently. I like it because it you don’t have to singContinue reading “My Lighthouse”