Category Archives: Uncategorized

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”

Tears and fears and feeling proudTo say “I love you” right out loudDreams and schemes and circus crowdsI’ve looked at life that way But now old friends are acting strangeThey shake their heads, they say I’ve changedWell something’s lost, but something’s gainedIn living every day Jodi Mitchell’s words speak to me… After 7 weeks ofContinue reading “Both Sides now – This is me”

Moons and Junes and Ferris wheelsThe dizzy dancing way you feelAs every fairy tale comes realI’ve looked at love that way But now it’s just another showYou leave ’em laughing when you goAnd if you care, don’t let them knowDon’t give yourself away Jodi Mitchell sees the fairy-tale, dizzy, dancing, Disney-perfect love. All will liveContinue reading “Both Sides Now – Love and Marriage”

Rows and floes of angel hairAnd ice cream castles in the airAnd feather canyons everywhereI’ve looked at clouds that way But now they only block the sunThey rain and snow on everyoneSo many things I would have doneBut clouds got in my way Joni Mitchell was inspired to write ‘Both Sides now’ in a planeContinue reading “Both Sides Now – clouds & mental heath”

Speak well? I watched the news from Minneapolis last night. There was the brutal image of the white police officer kneeling on the neck of the black George Floyd so he couldn’t breathe. There was news of Floyd’s tragic death and the subsequent sacking of four police officers. Thousands of peaceful protesters marched against injustice.Continue reading “Speak well – truth and justice”

My schoolboy Latin tells me: ‘benediction’ is made up of ‘bene’ – good and ‘diction’ – speaking. The ‘UK Blessing’ has inspired many in the last month. It is based on Moses’ instructions to Aaron to bless – his benediction for the people: ‘The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his faceContinue reading “Benediction – Speak Well”

The comedian Tony Slattery told of his battles with substance abuse, alcohol and depression. What started as the solution to his problems became the problem. Yeonmi was born in North Korea, living under a brutally repressive regime. She was often starving. Her family only survived through her father’s dealings on the black market. He was caughtContinue reading “The Solution becomes the Problem”

Yesterday we mused on ‘Great is thy faithfulness’. As a child I liked it because it contains the word ‘manifold’. ‘Join with all nature in manifold witness….’ I also heard about the ‘manifold mercies of God’, ‘manifold trials and temptations’. It was the King James Bible (1611) I was brought up with. I didn’t knowContinue reading “Manifold”

Great is Thy faithfulness!Great is Thy faithfulness!Morning by morning new mercies I see It’s Sunday. I’m musing on an old hymn. Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Ron* has been depressed this week. He has had to return to taking medication. Steve* knows he has messed up relationships and faith. He is tryingContinue reading “An Old Shoe”