Just one!

DM 21st December 2024

How many Presbyterians does it take to change a tap washer? Two. One (my son) to have the necessary arm-muscle to rotate the ring-spanner to undo the bolt that was previously tightened by some protein-pill-popping-plumber; and two (me) to have the brains to suspect the hardware person who told me all I needed a 20mm spanner, such that I walked out of the shop with not just the 20mm spanner but also the 21mm spanner – just in case.

Well, it was a real father and son moment. Like Joshua and his armour-bearer. Hillary and Tenzing. Torvill and Dean. Frodo and Sam. The bolt loosened under the tension of the huge muscular arm holding the 21mm spanner, and before you could say ‘copper pipe’, the old washers were out, the new washers were in, the bolt was retightened with the 21mm spanner rotated by the huge muscular arm. And the third Presbyterian (wife) was very happy.

How may Saviours does it take to save the world? Just one. For no one else could be found with the brains nor the muscle. “The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice. He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm achieved salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him.” Just one was needed: the Wonderful Counsellor (brains) and Mighty God (muscle), to change our broken hearts, and to wash the world with grace and love.

Recent Posts

An Iliad

An Iliad DM 19th June 2026 “Rage! Goddess, sing the rage of Peleus’ son Achilles / that destructive wrath which brought countless woes upon the

Read More »

One blood

One blood DM 5th June 2026 In 1830, Robert FitzRoy captained the Beagle that carried Charles Darwin on his famous voyage. Darwin wrote his account.

Read More »

Man flu

Man flu DM 29th May 2026 Man-flu is a real phenomenon, and I have just proved it by careful scientific experiment. My wife and I

Read More »

Two faces

Two faces DM 24th April 2026 Cue the frown. The local paper has just lobbed onto my driveway, and without picking it up, I bet

Read More »
Super-social behaviour

Super-social behaviour

Super-social behaviour DM 17th April 2026 Phubbing may well become the word of the century. It describes the act of phone-snubbing, where a person deliberately

Read More »

Brain freeze

Brain freeze DM 10th April 2026 I’ve had them before. Brain-freezes. And usually from consuming an icy drink too quickly. The secret to relieve the

Read More »