Author Archives: malcolmsmusingscom

There was a picture of my friend Chris in last weekend’s local paper, handing over a cheque to a mother and her son… I met Chris yesterday afternoon and asked him to tell me the story. At some point I heard ‘autistic dog’. I deliberately misunderstood, imagining a lovely but challenging dog that needed particularContinue reading “Deliberate Misunderstanding”

We’re often warned against ‘putting all our eggs in one basket’, because if you drop your basket, you’d break all your eggs. Eggs should be divided among several different baskets…. However sometime a single basket approach is required: When I go married fifty-two years ago I didn’t consider the multiple basket approach… When an ambulanceContinue reading “The Single Basket Approach”

I remember this old hymn from my childhood. I’ve heard it presented in many ways; to me it’s not a carefully crafted choir piece – it’s a powerful story that must be told simply… There were ninety and nine that safely layIn the shelter of the fold;But one was out on the hills away,Far offContinue reading “There Were Ninety And Nine”

Love’s Patience: Yesterday afternoon we went to Ipswich to watch the young people of ‘Co-op Juniors’ performing Les Misérables. They did an excellent job telling the well known story of poverty, justice, loyalty, honour, redemption, and above all love. The show ends with Marius and Cossette’s wedding. Both have come through troubles and trials; bothContinue reading “Lessons in Love”

We woke up this morning to the news that Labour have won the general election with a huge majority. The Liberal Democrats are delighted with their results. I just watched a TV analysis; they’re saying that it’s not that Labour have won, more that Conservatives have lost, and their votes have been distributed around otherContinue reading “Politics – Military or Musical?”

Meeting up with teacher friends on Tuesday reminded me of our friend Phil’s school assembly story about penguins… As I recall, it was a long and convoluted story, that Phil swears was true, that ends with Antarctic scientists in a helicopter surrounded by penguins. The penguins watch as the helicopter takes off… the helicopter getsContinue reading “Penguins, Sparrow-Hawks and Woodpeckers.”

Yesterday I struggled to get the satnav operational on my phone. I know for most folk that’s no big deal, but for me it wasn’t that straightforward. Eventually successful, I used it to find Kevin’s house in the middle of rural Suffolk. I first met Kevin when I started teaching in Saxmundham thirty-two years ago…Continue reading “Satnav, Schools and Good Teachers.”

Yesterday we visited Kew Gardens, London, exploring 300 acres of parks, gardens and greenhouses. Three encounters: We were surprised to a pair of parakeets in the trees. As the day went on we realised that in the gardens there are many parakeets. Because we aren’t used to seeing parakeets, we were aware of their constantContinue reading “Parakeets, Squirrels and Foxes”

In yesterday in church minister-Lou encouraged us, ‘Quit carrying a wallet-sized picture of God, when the universe cannot contain him.’ God’s picture in my wallet? As the picture of my wife or children – the reminder of a loved one? I think of myself as a ‘card-carrying Christian’ – my driving licence and bus passContinue reading “How Big Is My God?”

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!What more can He say than to you He hath said—To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled? “Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed,For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;I’llContinue reading “How Firm A Foundation”