Dear All It’s early in the morning, 6.14 am to be precise, and I am now writing. I had a quick look at some scientific papers from research as to how music affects the brain and was quite surprised. I was, and am surprised because some of what I read I already knew and so do you, of that, I have little doubt. One difference between you and I and the scientists, however, is probably, the use of ‘terminology’. Scientists have big complicated names for certain things whereas you and I don’t.......

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Dear All During this week we are being asked to be kind to one another and be aware of the issues surrounding mental health. Mental health, until recently, compared with treatments for other illnesses is a relatively new category. Psychiatry and Psychology did not ‘exist’ and were not really recognised as medical disciplines until about the mid 19th century. Prior to this time, during and even afterwards, many poor souls were sent to and imprisoned in dismal places because they were different and didn’t ‘fit in’. Schizophrenia, Hysteria, Epilepsy and a host......

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Dear All I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Robert Burns was influenced in his satirical poem, ‘Holy Willie’s Prayer’, by today’s passage, the similarities are stark. I have, during these last 58 days of ‘Thought for the Day’ made mention of Burns and might need to do so again in the future depending on what comes to mind. It’s amazing what does actually come to mind when you begin to write, you never really know where your thoughts might ultimately lead, what memories evoked, what experiences revisited and so on. It’s......

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Dear All Have you ever come across a ‘jobsworth’? They sometimes come in the form of a character with a big bunch of keys dangling from their belt and a kind of ‘know it all’ manner. Such authoritative figures seem to take delight in telling you what you can and can’t do, even trivial things. Sometimes they even get promoted and don their luminous vest, the equivalent insignia of a four-star general. You’ll know what I mean, I think. Now let me be clear. You’re probably thinking to yourself, someone’s rattled his......

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Dear All Let me get this off my chest before I continue, I’m fed up by those folk who start answering a question by the annoying use of ‘So……’ and those who feel it necessary to pirouette before they continue speaking. That said, I forgive them and will have to do so, what’s 7 multiplied by 70?. Ah! well, It’s a big number anyhow. If during your reading of my daily ‘thoughts for the day’ you think I might have repeated myself then perhaps you might forgive me too. It’s very difficult......

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Dear All I’ve got my Mr Grumpy coffee mug beside me on the kitchen table and I refill it about a dozen times while ‘penning’ my daily thoughts. I am enjoying writing to you each morning and count it a real privilege to do so. I am also very grateful, heartened and pleased by your many kind and generous comments. Thank you! As I write I am mindful of how trying it is for you at home and how much you are missing your families and friends and of the impact and......

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Dear All Who is it that decides whether a question is either good or bad? Listening to and taking part in general conversations you often hear someone use the phrase, ‘that’s a good question’. We all know what’s meant by that, but isn’t it a little condescending? I think it is a bit. After all, what’s the purpose of any question? Surely at its most basic, it’s the means of acquiring information. It is, therefore, in my view, for the ‘questioner’ to decide for him or herself whether a question is either......

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Dear All I wonder what your answer would be if you were asked the simple question, ‘are you religious?’. Pressed further, and depending on your first answer, what would you say if asked, ‘what makes you religious?’. What would you say? It’s quite rare for someone to be so direct in asking such questions but nonetheless, they are pertinent questions. From time to time we might even ask ourselves the same questions and what it is that makes us the kind of people we are. Self-reflection. Not being able to get out......

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Dear All Last night some of our elders joined in a Zoom ‘get together’. It was really quite adventurous and enjoyable too, seeing and hearing one another after such a long time. There were a few glitches, however, and at one point I was ‘cut off’. When I ‘returned’ to the screen someone humorously remarked ”I see we have our ‘dear leader’ back” and I’ve been chuckling away to myself ever since. I think it had something to do with the haircut. As it is in ‘normal’ circumstances, however, not everyone was......

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Dear All In church each week we recite the words of the Lord’s prayer and we say ‘…..your Kingdom come’…, yet, I’m not convinced that there exists one single, unitary idea of what it actually means. Do you? I think we have a general idea of what the ‘Kingdom’ is but when asked to explain, as I am asking you now, I don’t think you would be able to give a crisp and clear answer to my question. I do think, however, that you could answer generally, according to your own understanding,......

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