Author Archives: malcolmsmusingscom

Last night we watched and excellent production of ‘You Are Special’. The original story by Max Lucado, adapted as a musical stage production, was presented by a talented group of local youngsters. Our programme introduces the story: ‘Every day little wooden people named Wemmicks, go about their lives in the Wemmick village, and on theContinue reading “You Are Special”

Originally written as ‘Père  Martin’, by Reuben Saillens… retold by Leo Tolstoy as ‘Where Love is, God is’… I return to ‘Papa Panov’. On Christmas Eve, an elderly shoemaker, Papa Panov, is alone in his shop. His wife has died, his children have left home. He reads the Christmas story and sleeps. In a dreamContinue reading “Papa Panov”

In advent we return to a familiar story, familiar themes… Reconsidering love – the love of a mother for her baby, the love of a husband for his fiancée and her baby that isn’t his, the love of God for his world, our love for God and each other. Yesterday… …I collected my new glasses:Continue reading “Reconsidering Love”

Two local shows have been billed as a ‘Christmas Spectacular’. Thursford: ‘Our Christmas Spectacular is an extravaganza of non-stop singing, dancing, music, humour and variety. It’s a fast-moving celebration of the festive season featuring an eclectic mix of both seasonal and year-round favourites. With a cast of 130 this is the biggest Christmas show ofContinue reading “The Christmas Spectacular”

On Saturday Allan posted pictures of our Lowestoft coast. It’s what I see most days. I stopped, realising again how grateful for where I am and what I have – what I so often take for granted. I saw yesterday (Sunday) with fresh eyes. I went to church and enjoyed worshipping, reflecting, learning; I chattedContinue reading “Stop, Reflect, Be Grateful, Do Something!”

The child is a king, the carollers singThe old has passed, there’s a new beginningDreams of Santa, dreams of snowFingers numb, faces aglow Oh, it’s Christmas time, mistletoe and wineChildren singing Christian rhymeWith logs on the fire and gifts on the treeA time to rejoice in the good that we see Yesterday was the dayContinue reading “Mistletoe & Wine”

There were four contrasting stories on the news yesterday about ‘finding’ and ‘discovering’. 17-year-old British boy, Alex Batty has been found in near Toulouse in France. The boy disappeared after going on holiday with his mother and grandfather in Spain in 2017. He was found in the early hours of Wednesday morning by a FrenchContinue reading “Found or discovered”

Last night we watched a wonderful ‘Christmas Cabaret’ at ‘The Seagull’… Thom, as ‘Dame Cherie Bakewell’, had a problem. She didn’t have a pantomime to perform in, so she invited us to her ‘party’. Joined by a number of professional Seagull friends we thoroughly enjoyed an evening of music and comedy. Mark told ‘A ChristmasContinue reading “From Problem to Party?”

We’ve already received a good number of Christmas cards – the usual designs – Victorian Christmas scenes, Santa, snowmen, Christmas trees, robins… Some of our good Christian friends ensure that their cards illustrate the Christmas narrative – Joseph leading Mary who’s riding a donkey into the ‘little town of Bethlehem’; a stable scene with MaryContinue reading “Little Donkey”

We watched last night’s news. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his allies had been persuading Conservative MPs, potential rebels, to back his Rwanda Bill. He wants to ensure that asylum seekers can be deported to Rwanda… The Prime Minister won… well, he avoided defeat. It was certainly not a resounding victory. It’s good enough, but…Continue reading “Good Enough, But…”