Monthly Archives: March 2013

Our Father

Posted on by
Reply

On Mothers’ Day
I felt frustrated
by my youngsters’ fighting
and I felt
that a real present for me
would have been a truce.

Yesterday at Mass in Hannahstown,
as we all prayed the Our Father,
I had a sense of God as a parent,
surrounded by squabbling youngsters
and I felt that God was saying to me,
“If you want to show me
how much you love me,
love one another.”

It struck me
that the many teachings
of the Gospels
can be distilled
into six words,
“Love God
and love one another” .

Only six small words
but one huge challenge
for all of us!

© Claire Murray

Clannad

Posted on by
Reply

Tonight,
Clannad performed at The Waterfront
and I watched, fascinated,
as Moya Brennan played the harp.

In her hands the harp played
slow, haunting melodies,
racing reels and jigs
and dreamy love songs.

By itself,
the harp cannot produce
a single note
but in Moya’s hands
the harp became an instrument
that conjured up many moods.

As I watched Moya play the harp
I realised
that this is how I should be
with My God.

I need to surrender myself
to become My God’s instrument.
I need to make myself available to him
and entrust myself to his capable hands.

I need to relinquish control
so that the hands of My God may gently take
the flawed, weak person that I am
and use me as his instrument
to produce beautiful music.

In this way,
in the ordinariness
and in the wonder
of my daily life
My God’s will may be done,
whatever that will may be.

© Claire Murray

Cormorant

Posted on by
Reply

Yesterday,
as I walked to work,
I passed a cormorant
in the Lagan.

I watched as he passed me by,
semi-submerged in the water
and looking as if he was in danger
of sinking.

I thought to myself,
“He knows his place
in the world!”

I thought of myself
and about how I feel called
to share my faith with people
through singing
and through writing.

I thought about
how difficult I find it
to sing in front of people.

I thought to myself,
“I know my place in the world …
… but I’m afraid to take it!”

Then My God whispered to me,
“Claire,
you’re going about this all wrong.
Don’t pray
that you sing without fear.
Instead,
pray that when you sing,
my will shall be done”.

At once I felt at peace.

© Claire Murray

Mothers’ Day

Posted on by
Reply

Friends tell me
that sometimes
their children fight.
I reply
that sometimes
my children don’t fight!

Next year for Mothers’ Day,
I’m going to tell my youngsters
to forget all about
breakfast in bed,
cards and presents.
Instead I’m going to ask them
for something
infinitely more precious –
a truce!

Imagine …
a whole day
of not having to referee rows
or arbitrate on someone’s behalf!

A whole day
of not having to endure
sullen silences
or dirty looks!

A whole day
of not having to deflect criticism
or being caught in the middle!

Fingers crossed
for a Mothers’ Day
of peace and quiet …
… next year!

© Claire Murray

Transfiguration

Posted on by
Reply

Lord,
at the Transfiguration
you let your glory be seen
by a few close friends
who saw you
as you really are –
no more hiding.

I wonder
whether that is what
you are calling me to do –
to stop hiding,
to be myself,
not to be afraid
to let others see
who I really am
when I sing
and when I write?

So that in my own small way
when I sing
and when I write
I give witness to you?

© Claire Murray