Author Archives: malcolmsmusingscom

When you walk through a stormHold your head up highAnd don’t be afraid of the dark… Carousel tells of millworker Julie Jordan and carousel barker Billy Bigelow. They fall in love and marry. The troubled Billy is violent towards Julie. Involved in a bungled burglary he kills himself. Nettie, Julie’s cousin, sings ‘You’ll Never WalkContinue reading “Two More ‘Passing’ Songs”

Coronavirus has made us consider death… Bishop Michael Curry reflected on George Floyd: “… For one man to place his knee on the neck of another and to… choke the breath of life that God gave out of him… it is unconscionable, it’s unthinkable, and it’s horrible.” Yesterday the mother of suicide victim Caroline FlackContinue reading “Musings on Passing”

Would you know my name If I saw you in heaven? Will it be the same If I saw you in heaven?  I must be strong, and carry on Cause I know I don’t belong Here in heaven.  Eric Clapton wrote this song following his son’s death. Clapton’s musical achievements as a legendary guitarist are well documented, as are hisContinue reading “2 Songs in Passing”

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!Heir of salvation, purchase of God,Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood Fanny Crosby was born in New York in 1820. Blinded as a baby, her father died and her 21 year old mother had to work. Her grandmother brought her up and educatedContinue reading “Blessed Assurance”

On Thursday I mused on ‘We Shall Overcome.’ The hymn-spiritual of 100 years ago was ‘I Will overcome’. It was changed to ‘We Shall Overcome’ to unite white and black people in the civil rights struggle. Some from the black community argued that it should stay ‘I’. They said that if you say, ‘We shouldContinue reading “When ‘we’ becomes ‘I’”

The musical ‘Wicked’ tells the story of Elphaba, the smart, notorious, green Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, the beautiful, popular, blonde, Good Witch of the South. Starting as best friends their lives follow different courses and they drift apart. In a final reconciliation they realise the influence they have had on each other,Continue reading “Changed for Good”

Coronavirus and continuing health concerns keep us humble. Those who pride themselves in being strong face vulnerabilities and anxieties. Life beyond our control. Tim Farron writes: ‘I, too, have had to admit human frailty, being knocked sideways for a couple of weeks by what was almost certainly a bout of Covid-19… This is all aContinue reading “Humility, Humanity and Hope”

I have known John for many years. We were church leaders together. His wife Jean died; I visited him regularly. About a year ago John moved away. His mind was not as sharp as it had been. Yesterday his daughter Clare wrote: ‘The home reported that Dad has been more confused and wandering in theContinue reading “More than equal”

Repercussions from George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police continue. Violent rioters clash with the police. 40 cities are in lockdown across the US. There are demonstrations across the world. Politicians speak about law and order, justice and discrimination. A journalist asks, ‘Is a black man worth less than a white blond attractiveContinue reading “Of Equal Value”

Yeonmi Park was brought up in North Korea, escaped to China, and now lives in South Korea. Arriving in South Korea she was asked her favourite colour: ‘In North Korea … most of the time there is only one correct answer to each question… I thought hard to come up with the right answer. IContinue reading “Thinking for Myself”