It’s a cool, grey, February morning.
The Lagan slips quietly by
as I walk to work,
its still waters reflecting
a grey sky above.

This scene is peaceful
but my soul is troubled
and I am in turmoil.

I dander along the Lagan
hoping to find there
the peace that my soul longs for.

Just past Queen’s Bridge I stop,
dis-spirited,
and lean on the black railings,
gazing across the river.

A tall, steel structure
points towards the morning sky,
towering above surrounding buildings,
its almost-perfect reflection
distorting gently on the ripples of the Lagan.

It reminds me
that right here, right now,
I am being called
to reflect my perfect God
through my imperfect self.

And while I stand looking over the Lagan
a new certainty forms in my mind –
that for reasons best known to Himself
My God wants me to be
exactly where I am in my life
right here, right now,
right in the midst
of all this turmoil.

My despondency vanishes
in an instant
and I feel all fired up,
determined
not to let his situation beat me
convinced
that My God will take care of me.

I turn on my heel
and I stride into work.
Right here, right now
is where My God wants me to be.

And I am content.

© Claire Murray, 10th Feb 2015

My husband, Paul, and I are struggling,
confronted by a situation
for which we are totally unprepared.
We are troubled, shocked, worried
and deeply saddened.

Worst of all,
we are powerless.

We go to Sunday Mass at Hannahstown
and during the Consecration
as Fr Kevin raises the host
I sense strongly
that Jesus is truly present
in our Eucharist
and is physically here among us
up here, in Hannahstown.

I sense
that Jesus is here
with Paul and with me,
in our distress.

In my mind’s eye
I see Jesus walking beside us,
as we reluctantly enter
this unchartered territory.
Jesus has one hand reassuringly
on my shoulder
and with the other hand
on Paul’s shoulder.

I have a sense
that at this moment
Paul and I are not alone
and I have a conviction
that we will not be left to journey alone
under any circumstances.

And as Fr Kevin lowers the host
I feel reassured,
convinced now
that as Paul and I enter
this unchartered territory,
we are not alone –
We have Jesus right with us
as our guide.

© Claire Murray, 8th Feb 2015