Author Archives: malcolmsmusingscom

In an excellent article ‘Rooting out the Narcissist’, Carrie Lloyd describes film producer Harvey Weinstein… It could make a good blog – the Greek myth – Narcissus falls in love with his own reflection, a narcissus from our garden, the narcissistic personality disorder, examples from Hollywood, politics and the church, quotes from Carrie’s article: ‘WhenContinue reading “Focus On Willow, Dave, Tamar…”

This morning I was reading about Elijah… fleeing for his life from the threats of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. Stressed, depressed and suicidal, he eats a bit, drinks a bit, sleeps a bit, keeps running, and finds a cave in ‘The Mountain of God’. God asks: ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ Elijah explainsContinue reading “What Are You Doing Here?”

In her ‘Adventures in Wonderland’, Alice comes across the March Hare and the Mad Hatter at a table having tea, with the Dormouse between them, fast asleep: ‘The table was a large one, but the three were all crowded together at one corner of it. ‘No room! No room!’ they cried out when they sawContinue reading “No Room!”

The best grandad jokes are the ones that need explaining; what starts as a bad joke, finishes awful. For example: What did the grape say when it was crushed? It let out a little whine. The joke itself is bad enough; explaining that wine comes from grapes, and that complaining grandchildren (not yours of course!)Continue reading “Wine or Whine?”

On Sunday Minister-Lou quoted American computer scientist and animator Ed Catmull. Apparently, he was co-founder of Pixar and President of Walt Disney Animation Studios. Catmull said: ‘…there is a sweet spot between the known and the unknown where originality happens; the key is to be able to linger there without panicking.’ I recalled my daysContinue reading “The Sweet Spot”

I learnt the song ‘The Quartermaster’s Store’ as a boy at camp where ‘quartermaster’ was responsible for supplies…. We sung about ‘rats as big as alley cats’ and ‘cake that gives you belly-ache’. We made up our own verses – sometimes about each other… ‘Pete, with ‘normous smelly feet…’ It’s an old song – sungContinue reading “Dim Eyes That Can’t See”

At church this morning we shall sing this song. It gives an overview of the Easter story. We see the whole picture. We’re called to respond in praise… I cast my mind to CalvaryWhere Jesus bled and died for me.I see His wounds, His hands, His feet.My Saviour on that cursed tree His body boundContinue reading “O Praise The Name”

It’s been a busy week… sharing several meals with Daughter-Jo and family… spending a lovely day with friends Tim and Jill… celebrating son-in-law-Allan’s birthday… welcoming our church home-group… saying goodbye to grandchildren Zak and Hannah, returning to their studies… enjoying nephew-Joel and his family visiting us from France for a couple of days… It’s beenContinue reading “The Large Spectacles”

In 2003 we went to Kosovo. The war had just ended. We saw the effects of bombs and bullets, witnessed mass burials as bodies were returned, heard heartbreaking stories from ordinary, courageous families. We went with ‘Smile International’, whose vision statement states: Our vision is to see people and their lives transformed, for them toContinue reading “Tears and Smiles”

We were entering covid lockdown. A few friends encouraged me to start writing a blog. I’d never written for a public audience before; I didn’t know if I could. Four years ago, 11th April 2020, I wrote my first ‘Malcolm’s Musing’. It became a daily habit. Today, 1462 blogs later, I’m musing on musing… I’mContinue reading “Four Years Ago…”