Author Archives: malcolmsmusingscom

Human rights in the news: Yesterday’s musing on the rights of children/students, parents and teachers in education. Black Lives Matters demonstrations leading to the current unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin; Refugees, homeless and asylum seekers –  across the world and more parochial challenges; Work, redundancies, unemployment, businesses closing and recession Jesus on human rights: The poor,Continue reading “3 Rs – Rights”

Education has been in the news constantly for the last six months. It started with home schooling – lessons on line, parents rising to the challenge (or not), a new role for teachers, provision for the children of ‘key workers’… Parents worked from home at the same time and in the same space as homeContinue reading “The 3 Rs”

I have said, ‘My memory is not what it was’. I found that others shared my belief: getting older leads to deteriorating memory. Christine Webber, in yesterday’s Eastern Daily Press, challenges this, saying that we should not associate forgetfulness with ageing. Children forgetting their homework are not taking responsibility; young people forgetting to get upContinue reading “Order, disorder, reorder…”

Squirrels are often a source of entertainment in our garden. At this time of year young squirrels learning how to steal seeds from the bird feeders sometimes fall off! This morning they were on a hazel tree, precariously picking off their hazel-nut breakfast from the end of thin branches. We have a hazel tree becauseContinue reading “Squirrels, Wine and Comfy Chairs”

Maybe I didn’t love you quite as often as I could have,And maybe I didn’t treat you quite as good as I should have.If I made you feel second best, I’m sorry I was blind. You were always on my mind; you were always on my mind. An Elvis song as my ‘Sunday Hymn’? SometimesContinue reading “Always on my Mind”

How do we see God and in our suffering Coronavirus-world? Franciscan priest Richard Rohr, in ‘Breathing Underwater’, helps me. God allows suffering Rohr discusses a loving, omnipotent God who allows suffering: ‘The evidence is overwhelming that God fully allows and does not stop genocides, the abuse of children, brutal wars, unspeakable human and animal suffering,Continue reading “‘Lessons must be learnt’ (6) – Suffering and God”

Coronavirus-world has made many question the god that they believe in. Other world events and situations bring similar questions… 300,000 homeless after the Beirut explosion 70 million refugees in the world… our awareness through recent Channel crossings Global warming and its consequences Land and sea pollution World poverty, famine, suffering Prejudice, inequality, hatred and divisionContinue reading “‘Lessons must be learnt’ (5) – God?”

Coronavirus-world has confronted us with dark experiences and emotions. Many have encountered fear.  Afraid that they may catch ‘the virus’, afraid to leave the house, enter shops, be near other people… Some are fearful of being without employment, money or food; some fear for the health of vulnerable friends or relations. For some fear hasContinue reading “‘Lessons must be learnt’ (4) – The Dark Side”

Musing further on ‘Lessons we must learn’ from our coronavirus-world… I believe we have seen a greater focus on people: News about hospitals has been about patients, nurses, doctors, cleaning staff, deaths, recoveries… people. News about education has been about teachers, children learning, parents home-schooling, students’ exam results… people. The work-place has been about peopleContinue reading “‘Lessons must be learnt’ (3) – People Matter”

I continue to muse on ‘Lessons we must learn’ from our coronavirus-world… Our world is fragile. Racial prejudice and the plight of refugees affects the whole world. They don’t need to affect us directly in this quiet corner of Eastern England. We see pictures of national fragility – the explosion in Beirut, extreme political unrestContinue reading “Lessons must be learnt (2) – Fragile, Broken World”