Many years ago,
as I hurried out of the greengrocer’s,
I dodged a chatty friend.
Then, as I walked over to my car,
I stumbled,
badly spraining my ankle.
Limping painfully across the car park
I scolded myself,
“Serves you right, Claire!
You should have chatted to your friend!”

It’s an incident
that I have looked back upon
many, many times over the years.
Each time
I have been filled with regret
and with a feeling
that I had wronged my chatty friend.

When I recently sprained my ankle again,
those memories surfaced once more.

Then today, while out shopping,
I spotted my friend,
whom I hadn’t seen in several years.
This time,
instead of dodging her
I approached my friend
and we chatted away,
catching up on past years.

Returning to my car
I felt that My God had presented to me
a precious gift –
the opportunity to right a wrong
and this time,
as I limped back to my car
I felt at peace.

© Claire Murray, 21st July 2016

High above my head
on a clear spring morning
two tiny black guillemots fly
across a clear, blue sky
as I rush to work.
Something about the way that they fly
seems really determined.
Wherever they are going,
and however hard it is,
this journey is one
that the two guillemots are making
together.

I think of Paul and me
as we brace ourselves
on a journey that is, at times,
challenging.

Dandering through Botanic Gardens
enjoying my summer break,
The cottage garden is a delightful medley –
purples, pinks, yellows and reds,
soft pom-poms, spikey thistles,
whispering bamboo
and incessant birdsong.
But one set of flowers in particular
catches my eye –
beautiful purple flowers
with slender stems
and pom-pom blossoms,
each standing tall and singular.
Except for two flowers
which gently lean towards each other
and intertwine,
supporting each other.

I think of Paul and me
and the support and comfort
that we give to each other
day by day.

Thank you, Lord,
for the love
and the deep sense of commitment
that we share
as we face everything that life throws at us
together.

© Claire Murray, 11th July 2016

Lord,
at morning Mass we all pray,
“Give us this day
our daily bread …”
and I have a sense
that every single day of my life
you will give me
everything that I need
so that I can cope with every situation
that I may encounter.
I feel reassured
and at peace.

Thank you, Lord,
for your constant support
as I encounter
the day to day challenges
and difficulties of life.

© Claire Murray, 7th May 2016

People sometimes say
that every cloud
has a silver lining.
And I believe that this is true.

During a very, very dark time in my life
I discovered My God
and the relationship that developed
truly was my cloud’s silver lining.

Sometimes I wonder …
if I had not experienced
such desolation in my life
would I have developed
such a deep relationship
with My God?

Then I wonder …
if I really and truly cherish
this relationship with My God,
surely my own personal desolation
is a small price to pay?
Should I actually thank My God
for the darkness
that yielded such a precious prize?

And yet, try as I might,
I can’t bring myself to thank My God
for the darkness in my life
that led me to Him.

Sometimes the price that we have to pay
for a cloud’s silver lining
is exceptionally high.

© Claire Murray, 23rd April 2016

This is my first day
at Clonard Novena
and I’m worried about something.
My fears are very much in my mind
and they persist
during the Mass.

It’s time for Communion
and as I wait my turn
I find myself listening
to the words of “Come As You Are”.
This is a hymn that I’ve heard sung
many times before
but today is the first time
that I’ve actually listened to the words.

As I approach
to receive Communion
I hear the final words of the hymn –
“all will be well”
and in that instant
I am filled with peace
and with a conviction
that I have nothing to fear.

All will be well.

© Claire Murray, 21st June 2016