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It’s snowing… some remember the ‘Beast from the East’ a few years ago that brought heavy snow… I think back to the cold winter of 1961… we reminisce… In Les Misérables things are reaching a climax; the revolution is planned; the students are united, determined, committed; they reminisce… Drink with me to days gone bySingContinue reading “Drink with Me”

O Lord, the clouds are gatheringThe fire of judgement burnsHow we have fallen!O Lord, you stand appalled to seeYour laws of love so scornedAnd lives so broken It’s difficult to get the balance. Some tell us how awful life is… pandemic death figures, the financial crisis, mental health cases sharply increasing, conspiracy theories, a worldContinue reading “O Lord, the Clouds Are Gathering”

People have always had an inbuilt tendency to blame others. The first story in the Bible is of a man who blamed a woman, a woman who blamed a snake, and, as the old joke goes, the snake didn’t have a leg to stand on! This morning I read the ancient regulations for ‘the scapegoat’Continue reading “Scapegoats”

Musing on ‘hyssop’… Hyssop is a flowering plant. Its bitter minty leaves are used in herbal medicines; hyssop oil is used as a flavouring in cooking and a fragrance in soaps and cosmetics… In Exodus 12 Moses and the Israelites are ready to leave Egypt… The Passover lamb is killed; its blood is collected andContinue reading “Hyssop”

I warm to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. In his interviews, statements and sermons he comes across as seeking to lead the Anglican Community in an accessible and practical Christian faith. On several occasions recently he has been quoted as saying that the church must be ‘simpler, humbler and bolder’. Musing on my life…Continue reading “Simpler, Humbler, Bolder”

I walked past the CEFAS building yesterday. A group of men in high-viz jackets were standing at the bottom of a scaffolding tower; one man was high up, busy doing something. Mum, dad, three children and a dog approached me. Dad spoke to son with knowledge and authority: ‘That’s the way it is, son. OneContinue reading “The One That Makes a Difference”

Today, February 2nd, is ‘Candlemas’. 40 days after Christmas Day… Some traditions leave their Christmas decorations up until today!! The pagan tradition… Midway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, candles were lit in a festival of light… sometimes to scare away evil spirits… Various superstitions… If it’s fine then winter will continue; ifContinue reading “Candlemas”

Musing on 3 things this morning: My Bible Readings this week take me into Leviticus. Sacrifices, festivals and laws to wrestle with… This morning it’s the Peace (shalom) Offering (Leviticus 3). I’ve neither the space nor expertise to explain nor expound this fully. Musing… ‘Shalom’ is about wholeness, wellbeing, completeness in body, mind and spiritContinue reading “Shalom, Dave and Yellow Ribbons”

Come, all you vagabonds,Come all you ‘don’t belongs’Winners and losers,Come, people like me.Come all you travellersTired from the journey,Come wait a while, stay a while,Welcomed you’ll be. Stuart Townend wrote this song with Mark Edwards and Phil Baggaley, based on Jesus’ parable: A man invites his wealthy friends to a party – and all ofContinue reading “Vagabonds”

Yesterday I was out walking. It was cold and raining. The sun came out. It was still raining but there was a beautiful rainbow. I was walking behind a Mum and 3 sons. Two walked with her; a third dawdled behind. Catching them up I overtook ‘dawdler’. I was about to overtake Mum with herContinue reading “Difficult Situation: Good Outcome.”