Life’s Unanswered Questions

Yesterday morning something was on the pavement outside our house. I inspected further. A shopping trolley was padlocked to a lamppost. I resisted the temptation to look inside the bag. Later in the day it had gone. I made up my own stories involving old ladies without the strength to get home but resourceful enoughContinue reading “Life’s Unanswered Questions”

Simply the Best

Tina Turner famously sung: You’re simply the bestBetter than all the restBetter than anyoneAnyone I’ve ever met. This weekend seems to have been about being ‘Simply the Best’… Saturday was the first semi-final of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’. We watched singers, dancers, illusionists and entertainers attempting to show the judges and the voting public that theyContinue reading “Simply the Best”

Peace in the Valley (2)

Last weekend was Easter weekend. We thought about life and death, blood and tears, despair and hope, life on earth and the life to come. Yesterday was Pope Francis’ funeral attended by more than 250,000. There were world leaders in black, cardinals in red, bishops in purple, priests in white. Choirs sang Latin hymns andContinue reading “Peace in the Valley (2)”

Quota Quickies and Apples

In yesterday’s news… Lowestoft Journal… Daniel Jillings has won the prestigious Rotary Young Citizen Award 2025 and received the award in London. Daniel’s profoundly deaf and a British Sign Language user. He’s been actively campaigning since 2018 for all students to be able to study BSL as a GCSE. Daniel’s efforts have resulted in extensiveContinue reading “Quota Quickies and Apples”

From Eating Burgers to Joining Hands

My ‘New International Version’ Bible has been an old friend for many years. The more I read it the more familiar it becomes. I recognise recurring themes, spot repeated phrases. This morning I read Psalm 14. It’s familiar. It starts: ‘The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’’ I’ve heard sermons preached onContinue reading “From Eating Burgers to Joining Hands”

Go, Experience, Learn…

Yesterday Rachel and I went to Minsmere nature reserve. Go… We drove half-an-hour down the road, walked round Minsmere. We can’t visit Minsmere by staying at home! Experience… We took binoculars, watched patiently… engaged with others… spent several hours in hides… watching a Bittern, Marsh harriers, Hobbies, Avocets… Learn… We learnt/remembered from knowledgeable bird-watchers… fromContinue reading “Go, Experience, Learn…”

When John, Paul, Charles and Jesus agree…

Easter’s done for another year. …There was usual ordinary stuff… gardening, reading, TV… I went with son-Pete to the football, Rachel did a jigsaw puzzle… …There was church stuff… communion, music, meeting friends… special services for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday… …There was spiritual stuff… reflecting on life’s great themes – death and life,Continue reading “When John, Paul, Charles and Jesus agree…”

I Know That My Redeemer Lives

Today is Easter Sunday… I’ve been reading the ‘Job’. Job has lost everything- his family, his reputation, his self-respect, his friends, his perceived integrity. He feels alone, abandoned by his friends and betrayed by his God. In chapter 19 he describes his suffering and complaints: ‘…God has wronged me and drawn his net around me…Continue reading “I Know That My Redeemer Lives”