Lord,
last night I sang
at a cross-community Christmas event
run by the parishes of Hannahstown
and Stoneyford.

When my turn came to sing
I took my place at the front of the hall
but although I stood there,
apparently alone,
I felt convinced
that you were standing right beside me,
encouraging me,
and that my singing
was not a solo act –
but was very much a partnership
between My God and me.

Thank you, Lord,
for blessing me
with the gift of song
and for helping me
to share this gift
with others.

©  Claire Murray, 11th December 2016

These past few days
have been hectic!
There’s been so much to do –
all of the usual chores at work
and at home,
not to mention the many extra preparations
for birthdays and Christmas.
I’ve been so busy
and it’s left me feeling so tired!

As I settle down in prayer
I read today’s reading –
“Take my yoke
upon your shoulder.
I will give you rest.”

I find myself examining my life
over the past few, busy days.
Have I invited Jesus
into my hectic life?
Or have I closed the door
firmly (but politely)
in his face?

I realise
that in my rushing about
I have blocked Jesus
out of my life.
No wonder I have found
these past few days
so difficult!

Lord,
as this rush towards Christmas
steadily gathers pace
remind me
to make space for you.
Because I have learned
through the years
that when I make time for you
in my life
you always find a way
to give to me
all of the time
that I need.

©  Claire Murray, 9th December 2016

As I drive through the countryside
my mind fills
with thoughts of rejection.
I feel hurt, embarrassed
and I turn to My God.

Jesus says,
“Claire,
I’m an expert on rejection –
an entire nation rejected me
when I was on earth.
Walk with me
and you will be fine.”

©  Claire Murray, 20th November 2016

It’s been a hectic day at work
and as I step out of the front door
on a cold autumn day
my mind is racing,
filled with lots of issues and problems
about work.

Raising my head
I see a beautiful evening sky.
Wow!

The hills of Belfast are silhouetted
against a darkening peach sky
and are mirrored on the still waters
of Belfast Lough.
All thoughts of work
disappear
and I find myself absorbed
in the peaceful autumn beauty
of Belfast.

I slow down
to enjoy  this unexpected beauty
and as I walk slowly
beside Belfast Lough,
watching the gentlest of ripples
I feel a deep sense of peace
framed by the words,
“Be still and know
that I am God.”

I’m on my way to meet my husband, Paul,
and as I dander along
savouring this precious peace
I find myself praying,
“Lord, it’s good to be here!”

And so it is,
simply wonderful to be here,
walking over to meet the one I love
on a breath-taking autumn evening.

Really, who could ask for more?

©  Claire Murray, 24th November 2016

As Jesus makes his way
to the home of a senior Pharisee,
other Pharisees skulk at a distance.
They watch his every move,
willing him to do something
that is against the Jewish law
so that they can publically challenge him
and bring him down.

But Jesus is aware of their intentions
and, before curing a man,
he asks the Pharisees
whether he should cure someone
on the Sabbath
or not?
The Pharisees can find no reply.

Reading this
I feel so sorry for Jesus
who wishes to act out of love
and yet finds himself
under constant scrutiny.
I think about the Pharisees
who have closed their hearts
to the love of God
and who are more concerned
with Law
than with God.

An uncomfortable thought strikes me.
There are times in my life
when I, too, lie in wait,
hoping for someone to trip up,
and secretly celebrating their misfortune
when they do.
I am shocked –
I have more in common with the Pharisees
than I thought!

Lord,
help me in my life
not to snipe from the side-lines
when others are in difficulty.
Help me
to act out of love.
Help me
to be less like the Pharisees.

©  Claire Murray, 31st October 2016

Have you ever put a great deal of thought
into buying, or even making,
a gift for a friend
only to find that,
when you give it to them,
they don’t really seem to like it?
Sometimes
your friend doesn’t even say “Thanks!”
or sometimes they say “Thanks!”
with as much enthusiasm
as if you’d just presented your friend
with a box of Maltesers from a pound shop
(and in fact you’re left with a sneaking suspicion
that your friend would probably have preferred
that box of Maltesers!)
You’re left feeling really disappointed.

Do you reckon
that’s how God feels?

On that first Christmas
God gave to us
the precious gift of His only son.
And God gives us that gift again
in the Eucharist
every time that we celebrate Mass.
When the priest raises the Host at Mass
and proclaims, “Behold the Lamb of God …”
do we truly appreciate
the precious gift
of the Body of Christ?
Or are we distracted instead
by the cares and worries
of home and work?

In this hectic world
do we take time to appreciate
the gift of Jesus to each one of us
or is Jesus for us
simply yet another unwanted gift?
Given the choice,
which would we rather have –
Jesus or that box of Maltesers?

©  Claire Murray, 28th December 2016

My Granny Fisher had a unique view
of the many different strands of Christianity;
she used to say,
“The smoke all blows the one way!”
It was her way of explaining that,
at the end of the day,
the prayers of all Christians
are heard by the same God.

Last night
I went to the carol service
that was organised by my parish,
the Catholic parish of Hannahstown.
The carol service was led by Father Kevin
from Hannahstown
and by Reverend John
from the Church of Ireland
at Stonyford.

There was a real cross-community feel
to the carol service.

Father Kevin and Reverend John
stood side by side on the altar,
dressed identically
in robes of black, white and purple
and taking it in turns
to lead the congregation in prayer.
Catholic primary school children
led the singing
and re-enacted the Christmas story
while Rosemary, from the Church of Ireland,
played the organ.
And all the while
Catholics and Protestants sat side by side
in the congregation.

I had a strong sense
of Christians setting aside differences
to celebrate all that we share in common.

Granny Fisher would have loved this carol service
and I know exactly
what she would have said about it –
“Sure doesn’t the smoke all blow the one way?”

©  Claire Murray, 11th December 2016

I’m tired.

It’s been a really busy Saturday –
lots of rushing about and errands to run,
dinners to make and dishes to wash,
vacuuming, cleaning, dusting.
Hardly a chance to sit down
and, worst of all,
no lie-in!

A quick cup of tea
and then yet another chore –
emptying the bins.
Returning to the back door
carrying the empty bins
I happen to glance up
and there,
in between two neighbours’ houses,
I see a glorious sunset –
dozens of pink clouds brightly scattered
across a pale winter sky.
And I have a sense
that My God is with me
in the midst of all of these chores,
even emptying the bins!

And as I walk into the house
to complete a few remaining chores
I feel refreshed.

©  Claire Murray, 24th November 2016