Protests and parables
Protests and parables DM 5th October 2024 I don’t quite get the message from the Just Stop Oil people who recently threw soup on Vincent’s famous painting Sunflowers. I could understand if they glued their hands to a petrol bowser, but to vandalize an innocent and beloved piece of art is a mystery to me. […]
In the valley
In the valley DM 28th September 2024 C S Lewis is masterful in his portraits of Christ that are sprinkled through his famous Chronicles of Narnia. Some are frequently retold and have become well known, like the children’s first enquiry about Aslan the great lion, who is Christ: “Is he safe?” they ask, to which […]
Suffering 101
Suffering 101 DM 21st September 2024 In that famous Bible book of Job, there is one character that I’ve always struggled with. The young man Elihu. He appears toward the end of the book, after all of Job’s comforters – Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar – have exhausted their theological energies jousting with Job, and have […]
Fruiting faith
Fruiting faith DM 14th September 2024 My olive tree is finally bearing fruit! First time. After years of rebuking, pruning, counselling, and cajoling. Admittedly the fruit is still very small. ‘Microscopic’ would be too small a word. ‘Tiny’ might be too big. But fruit no less. And the day shall surely come of reaping and […]
Before Bluey
Before Bluey DM 7th September 2024 Bluey now has her own set of stamps, coins, figurines, and all manner of collectables. I don’t remember Lassie being so feted, and only now is that famous sled-dog, Togo, who braved dangerous icefields to enable a medical rescue, starting to be recognized. But long before them all was […]
Metalympics?
Metalympics? DM 31st August 2024 The Olympics has come and gone. The Paralympics is about to begin; which I always think is the more extraordinary of the two competitions. Athletes disadvantaged by the loss of an eye or a limb, performing high-level feats, is incredibly inspiring. But is there a place in competition for people […]
Barometers
Barometers DM 24th August 2024 Old Kevie is the barometer in our street. If he says it’s Yellow Bin Night (Recycling), then it is. Or if he puts out his Green Bin (green waste), then so does the rest of the street. Kev’s reliability has saved me on several occasions from the bother of uncollected […]
Exegesis
Exegesis DM 17th August 2024 Apart from a ute, boat, and half-day on Friday, builders and preachers have much in common. What architect drawings, onsite consults, and hammers are to a builder, so exegesis, hermeneutics, and homiletics are to a preacher. Exegesis is the act of drawing out the meaning of a Bible text, hermeneutics […]
Second chances
Second chances DM 10th August 2024 The word ‘repechage’ appears to have won a gold medal in linguistics at the Paris Olympics. It’s French for second chance. In my growing-up years, the word was confined to the world of rowing, with the best losers getting a second chance to make the finals. But now it’s […]
Pinkies!
Pinkies! DM 3rd August 2024 I had one of those “pinkies” moments when my neighbour dropped in recently for a visit; not that I said it out loud. The discussion turned to French lessons at school, and a particular song that his teacher, Miss Collins, taught him: ‘Sur le Pont, d’Avignon’ (On the bridge of […]