Author Archives: markdowe1

Arts, Literature, Scotland

Making it a big thing

HELPING HANDS

THERE’S an old Scots proverb that many in Scotland are fond of. It goes, “Mony a mickle maks a muckle”.

The spelling varies, but in essence it translates as “lots of little things make a big thing”.

A man might make a decent income by being good at many little jobs; lots of people doing a little bit to help someone adds up to that someone being helped in a big way.

And then there is the Russian version of that old saying which also expresses it subtly: “If everyone gave a thread, the poor man would have a shirt.”

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Arts, Books, Religion

The ‘Home Preacher’

WITHIN REACH

THE second-hand book shop had a well-stocked “Religion” section. On the shelves, the books ranged from modern paperbacks within easy reach to leather-bound and possibly antique volumes on the higher ledges.

Craning my neck to look beyond recent titles, I made out titles like An Outline Of Christianity, Fleetwood’s Life Of Christ and The Bible Encyclopaedia. One book, however, stood higher and deeper than the rest.

It was The Home Preacher, with lessons, well constructed sermons and quotes for every day of the year, all of which are meant to be worked through at home.

It made complete sense. Home is where we are at our most authentic, often where we are most challenged, and where the example we set has a more lasting effect.

Few might aspire towards teaching directly from the pulpit, but every one of us blessed with a home and a family ought to aim to be a home preacher.

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Arts

Making the path easier for others

LAID BARE

THE abandoned church in a derelict state is surrounded by a dry-stone dyke, an entrance gate and an exit gate.

An adult could swing a leg over the stone wall and it would be no obstacle for scrambling children. The main gates are easily accessible.

At some point in its history, however, the wall was deliberately breached. It was built up again, allowing for a three-feet-wide access. The gentle rise on the other side of the gap, which most walkers would have taken in their stride, had three stone steps inlaid.

On either side of this afterthought of a gate is grass. There is no path to it, no path after it, and no explanation as to why it is there. All we can conclude is that, at some point, someone needed the way made easier and someone else must have made it so.

Many will like and appreciate that as they attempt to walk through an undesignated area of land used by others in the past. Why it is there remains a mystery.

If we leave anything behind after we finish our walk here, may it also be signs that we made the path easier for others to follow.

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