Promise of Summer

Posted on 21 April, 2015 by Claire Murray

One morning in April
I begin my journey into work
later than usual
and I decide to take the scenic route
along the Lagan Tow Path.

Today
there’s a real sense of beauty here.
And yet the beauty that I see today
is not to be found
in the sun shining brightly
in a cloudless, blue sky.
Neither is it to be found
in the chorus of birdsong
or in the golden, bushy dandelions
that merrily line the path.

The beauty that I see this morning
is in the people.

Everyone on the Tow Path
appears to be
on an unofficial go-slow.

Nobody rushes.

There’s not a power-walker in sight.
Neither are there any racing cyclists
speeding past
on their way to work.

Instead,
elderly couples dander along,
parents leisurely push prams,
toddlers feed the ducks,
and in this busy city
people, unusually, take the time
to nod a greeting to strangers
or to smile.

And as I cycle to work
in the company of people
who are leisurely, unhurried,
at ease and relaxed,
I savour a sense
that today the Lagan Tow Path
is offering to all of us who journey here
the promise of summer.

As Red as Blood

Posted on 3 April, 2015 by Claire Murray

At the Vigil Mass
for Palm Sunday
I hear a tale
of betrayal and suffering,
crowd manipulation and mass hysteria,
cruelty and torture
and self-sacrifice.

I am unmoved.

During the Consecration
Fr Thomas raises the host
and I look up towards the altar
trying to glimpse the Body of Christ.
Tonight my view is unobstructed
and I can see Fr Thomas clearly.

I am shocked.

Fr Thomas stands on the altar,
a striking figure
in crimson vestments,
his arms raised to display
the Body of Christ.

I suddenly dawns on me
that Fr Thomas is wearing these vestments
because they are
as red as blood,
as red of the blood of Christ.

This thought hits me forcefully
and I stare at Fr Thomas
in disbelief,
appalled, shocked
and deeply saddened.

And yet, in a strange way,
I welcome these emotions
which bring to life again once more
the story of Jesus’ passion,
reminding me
that Fr Thomas’ vestments
are as red as the blood of Christ
that was shed
for me.

End of a Rainbow

Posted on 3 April, 2015 by Claire Murray

Mammy is a great believer
in fairy tales.
and I grew up
convinced
that if I could only find
the end of a rainbow
I’d be sure to find
a pot of gold there.
Over time I discovered
just how elusive rainbows are –
as I tried to move closer to them,
they all somehow seemed
to slip away from me.

Sometimes I feel
that my relationship with My God
is a bit like that –
I try my best to find Him
but sometimes
he just seems to slip away.

Today as I cycle to work
a bright rainbow stretches out before me,
reaching almost across
Belfast Lough.
But this is no ordinary rainbow!
it does not end in the distance
like all the others.
Its colours seem to travel
along the surface of the water
and to my amazement
I find that I can see
not only the end of the rainbow,
but BOTH ends of the rainbow
tantalizingly close to me
near the water’s edge.

Today’s rainbow feels very close to me,
and I have a sense that,
just like this rainbow,
My God is reaching out to me,
and is closer to me
than I ever believed possible.
All I have to do
is to keep trying,
to keep reaching out in prayer
and I’ll find Him.

Doll’s Pram

Posted on 3 April, 2015 by Claire Murray

As I drive to work
I pass a Day Today shop
on the Falls Road.
Outside the shop door
stands an empty pram
and parked neatly beside it
is a tiny doll’s pram.
It too, is empty;
mother and daughter
have evidently each brought
their baby or doll
into the shop with them.

The sight of these two prams
parked side by side
makes me smile.
I picture in my mind’s eye
a wee girl
trying so hard
to mimic her Mammy
who cares tenderly for a baby
while the wee girl
cares tenderly for her doll.

In my spiritual life
I am very much like the wee girl
pushing her tiny pram
beside her Mammy
and trying to imitate her.

I sense that Jesus walks beside me
every step of the way,
gently guiding
and encouraging me.
I sense
that Jesus looks down at me
and smiles
as he sees my halting progress,
delighted
by my child-like efforts
and by every tiny achievement.

Today
I sense Jesus reminding me
that it is important to be child-like
in the presence of My God;
I am in safe hands
and Jesus will teach me
all that I need to know.

Go Slowly!

Posted on 3 April, 2015 by Claire Murray

Rain starts to fall
as I walk to work
on the day before
St Patrick’s day.
Traffic rushes past me on the road
and pedestrians hurry past me
on the footpath –
everyone is in a hurry
to get to work
on time.

I turn
and follow a path
that leads from the Albert Bridge Road
down to the Lagan.

In an instant,
all is quiet
and the sense of rushing around
is replaced
by a sense of calm.
For some reason
the noise of the city traffic
doesn’t penetrate to the riverside.

A road sweeper
passes me slowly on the path
and when rain starts to fall
even the rain drops fall slowly and gently,
landing softly on the Lagan
and lazily dabbing circles on its surface.
Ahead of me
a train crosses a bridge,
moving at a snail’s pace.

And I have a sense
that this Monday morning
My God is inviting me
to go slowly,
urging me
not to rush around,
suggesting
that I refrain from rushing headlong
into decisions I need to make.

As I continue my journey to work
I feel at peace
and reassured
that all will be well.

As Lent Approaches

Posted on 3 April, 2015 by Claire Murray

Each year
as Lent approaches
my mind usually focuses
on temptations that I anticipate
as I prepare to embark
on six long weeks
without coffee, chocolate and sweets.

But this year
as Lent approaches
I remember
that when Jesus was tempted in the desert
he was tempted in many different ways
and I wonder in what variety of ways
I might be tempted?

Will I be tempted
to ignore the fact
that I have not truly forgiven
people who have hurt me in the past?
Will I be tempted
to justify grudges that I bear,
telling myself
that I can’t possibly be expected
to wipe the slate clean,
to act as if nothing had ever happened?

Will I be tempted
to be less than gracious
when an apology is offered
for an offence committed?

Will I be tempted
to abandon myself
to a sense of helplessness
and despair
when faced with a situation
which I am powerless to control
instead of entrusting the situation
to the loving care
of my all-powerful God?

As Lent approaches,
I’m aware
of tremendous potential for temptation
and I wonder
whether I will choose
to give in to temptation
or to draw closer to My God?

In Conversation With God

Spiritual Reflections by Claire Murray

Monthly Archives: April 2015

Promise of Summer

As Red as Blood

End of a Rainbow

Doll’s Pram

Go Slowly!

As Lent Approaches