This summer
I’ve been absolutely drenched
more times
than I care to remember.

And yet, even as I think this,
another thought pops
into my head –
“What about the rainbows?”

And I have to admit
that this has also been
a summer of rainbows.

Tiny, hand-sized rainbows
painted on the living room wall
when the sun shone in
through bevelled glass.

Rainbows sprayed across the lawn
as Paul watered
brightly-coloured flower beds
on sunny days.

A glorious double-decker rainbow
that blazed across the sky
after a downpour
in Mayo.

Best of all,
the rainbow that ended
right beside the cherry tree
in our very own back garden!
(Can there really be a pot of gold
buried there?)

And if the truth be told
there simply couldn’t be any rainbows …
without the rain!

Thank you, Lord,
for a myriad of rainbows
that dazzled
and lifted our spirits
during a rainy, Irish summer!

© Claire Murray, 27th August 2019

Summer has been different
this year.
A back injury disrupted our plans.
But a new routine
of rest and relaxation
has emerged.

Working together
to entice wildlife
into our garden –
gold finches, green finches
and squirrels.

Planting summer blooms together
of reds, whites, pinks, purples
and a fragrant lavender hedge,
buzzing with bees.

Leisurely walks together
to Musgrave
where we dander among
towering copper beeches,
bursting flower beds
and manicured bowling greens
as we watch for squirrels
(and the occasional mouse!)

Drinking coffee together
in the multitude of coffee shops
on the Lisburn Road
as we relax, chat
and watch the world go by!

Laughing together
as we follow the antics
of Audrey, Marjory and Richard
in a box set
of To the Manor Born.

All so very different
from what we had planned.
But in this challenging year
I wonder
whether a summer
of forced rest and relaxation
has been perhaps
what we really needed
even if it it was not at all
what we had planned?

© Claire Murray, 19th August 2019

As my summer holiday
draws to a close
I spend a glorious day
at Greenore
in the company of my family
and in the presence
of My God.

My God …
God of Shimmering Waters
that lap and slap
oh, so gently,
against a stoney shore.

God of Mourne Mountains
and Craggy Cooleys
whose serrated peaks
stand crisp and clear
against a rare, blue, summer sky.

God of Huge Hulking Bull
so still, stern and intimidating
as we sneak quickly and quietly by.

God of Brown Hairy Caterpillar
who treks across
narrow country roads
to the safety of the other side.

God of Fluttering Butterflies
who chase and cavort
unpredictably,
flitting from flower to flower –
the very essence of summer!

God of Our Wee Family
as we dander and chat
enjoying each other’s company
and quietly savouring the wonders
of God’s creation.

Thank you, Lord,
God of So Many Wonders
for wonderful summer memories
to sustain each of us
as summer draws
to a close.

© Claire Murray
15th August 2019

Last night
I didn’t sleep well at all
and this morning
when I rise early for work
I feel so tired!
I watch through the kitchen window
as I wait for the kettle to boil.

A movement catches my eye –
a sudden shaking of oak leaves
while the rest of the garden
is quiet and still.

Looking up the oak tree
I spy our wee grey squirrel.
He scratches himself
before exploring the oak tree.
He then proceeds to investigate
the rest of the garden
climbing each tree in turn
and setting leaves a-tremble
wherever he goes.

Thank you, Lord,
for this welcome visitor to our garden
who distracts me from my tiredness
in the early morning.

© Claire Murray, 1st May 2019

It’s funny.
Today is the first day of summer
but as I settle down to morning prayer
all I can picture in my mind’s eye
is fireworks.

You see,
Paul put his back out
making the bed –
a simple action
that left him in agony
for several days.
Standing, sitting and walking
were all excruciating
and as for getting into bed –
a nightmare!

Paul suffered
and I prayed.

This morning
Paul’s back pain eased
and Paul is now able
to walk about tentatively,
dress himself
and even get out of bed
with only a wee bit of pain.

Such a relief!

All that I seem to say
when I settle down to pray
is a score of “thank you’s”
which I fire up into heaven
in quick succession.
They remind me
of fireworks I have seen
that shoot vertically
in a quick succession –
a well-timed sequence
of golden plumes,
going go phutt-phutt-phutt
as they launch into a night sky.

So I sit here
on this summer’s morning
with my mind filled
with a fireworks display of thanks
and my heart soars.

© Claire Murray, 1st June 2019

It’s been a busy day for us
and before bedtime
our evening walk brings us
to the Turia Riverbed Park –
an expanse of green parkland
that stretches for miles through Valencia
where the River Turia
used to flow.

Palm trees spike
against the evening sky
and orange trees are dotted
with bright fruit.
Ponds shimmer and fountains spray.
Blackbirds listen intently for worms,
swallows circle overhead
and doves coo soothingly in the trees.
The Bridge of Flowers
lives up to its name
crossing the parkland
in a splendour of colour –
reds, pinks and purples,
a sight to behold!

Down under the bridge
a drummer plays
on his make-shift drum set
of plastic tubs and saucepans
filling the evening air
with a carefree sense of joy and fun!
Such a relaxing, reassuring
and happy end
to a busy day!

Here, the glory of God’s creation
combines with the imagination of man –
WOW!

© Claire Murray, 15th April 2019