Monthly Archives: January 2013

Claire with the Guitar

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Nuala with the Hula stands confidently
at the end of Queen’s Bridge,
proudly presenting her hula hoop
to someone I can’t see.

Each day as I pass her
on my way to work
I see a promise that one day
I, too, will stand tall and confident
and that on that day
I will sing without fear.
Each day when I see Nuala with the Hula
it feels possible, somehow,
and each day I smile at the thought.

Today it happened.
It felt like time to stop hiding.
It felt like time to stand
in full view of people
without trying to hide
the deep longing that I have for God.
It felt like time to stop worrying
about what people might think.
It felt like time to unashamedly
simply be myself.

So, today,
Claire with the Guitar stood confidently
on the balcony at Hannahstown
in the company of friends
and sang without fear.

It felt good!

(c) Claire Murray

In Conversation With God

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Lord,
did you pick the right person?
Do you not think
that maybe
you should have picked
someone else?
A performer?
An extrovert?
Someone less self-conscious
than me?

Lord,
I’m not a performer.
I get nervous
when I get up to sing
in front of people.
I’m a weak person,
very weak!
I’ve been singing at Mass
for two years now
and I still find it difficult.
Is there not someone else?
Have you picked
the wrong person?

Claire,
I chose you a long time ago.
Before time even began
I chose you to be mine
and every day of your life
I choose you all over again.

I’m not looking for a performer.
I just want someone who loves me
and who tries her best
to put me at the centre
of everything she does.

I want someone
who doesn’t consider
that her voice
is something to be proud of
because she recognises
that her voice
is a gift from me.

I want someone who realises
that every time she has managed
to sing without fear
she was receiving another gift from me.

I don’t want a performer.
I want someone
with love in her heart
to sing about the God of love.
You say that you like
to sing love songs and ballads.
Well, I want you to sing
love songs and ballads
about us.

Claire,
I haven’t chosen the wrong person.
Trust me.
Be patient with yourself
and be patient with me.
I’ll send you all of the help
that you need.
I promise!

© Claire Murray

Jesus Has the Key

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I read,
“Whatever prison you find yourself in,
Jesus Christ has the key”
and I prayed to Jesus
to help me to escape
from my own personal prison.

I felt Jesus say to me,
“Claire,
of course I’ll help you
to leave your prison
but don’t expect me
to simply wave a magic wand
and make your problems disappear.

“I’ll send friends to help you.
I’ll send you the tools that you need.
This won’t be instant;
you’ll be in for the long haul
but I’ll be with you
at all times
helping you.

“Of course I will help you
to unlock the door
but ultimately
only you can decide
that you are ready
to walk through it.”

© Claire Murray

(Inspired by Charlie Brown, writing in “Why I am Still a Catholic”, edited by Peter Stanford)

Bow Street Mall

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Today, in Bow Street Mall,
I noticed a wee girl
as she spied her Daddy
at the other side of the shop.

Her face lit up with delight
and she ran over to her Daddy,
with her arms outstretched.

Her Daddy grinned,
crouched down,
reached out his arms
and swept his wee girl
up into the air,
swirling her round
as they both laughed
in sheer delight.

Every time I approach
My God, My Daddy
in prayer,
he is ready to welcome me
in the same way,
with open arms
and is delighted
simply to spend time with me,
his wee girl.

As I remember that wee girl
with her Daddy,
the question in my mind is this:
do I approach My God, My Daddy,
with the same love, trust and confidence
as that wee girl
in Bow Street Mall?

© Claire Murray

Wise Men

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In childhood
I was impressed
by exotic wise men,
dressed in shimmering robes
crossing deserts on camels,
following a star
for hundreds of miles
before reaching their destination –
the new-born King of the Jews.

In adulthood
I am astonished
at wise men
who enter an out-building
in a small town,
find a tiny baby
and bow down before him,
acknowledging him as King.

I pray that,
like the wise men,
I too may have the wisdom
to recognise My God
when he reveals himself to me
in the most unexpected of places
and in seemingly unlikely people.

(c) Claire Murray