We are on holiday for a week
in Donegal.
Our house is down
a wee, quiet country road
in the middle of nowhere.
Peace and quiet all around –
perfect!

Days are spent
exploring mile after mile
of sandy beaches
and mountain roads.
Nights are spent relaxing
by a blazing coal fire.

Stars catch my eye one night
as I leave our cosy wee house
to get coal for the fire.
Standing in the one spot
I turn slowly
as I gaze at the night sky
so black,
filled with thousands of pinpoints of light –
I feel like I’m standing
in a snow globe of stars!

I feel dwarfed by the immensity
of the night sky
and I feel in awe of My God
whose outstretched hand
created each of these stars,
positioned it in the heavens
and called it by name.

To my delight
a star shoots across the sky
and I breathe a prayer of thanksgiving
to My God
who created me,
who positioned me in life
and who calls me by name
tenderly
every single day.

And as I stand wondering
at the immensity of the heavens
I have a sense
that My God is keeping me
safe and sound
right in the palm
of His hand.

Perfect!

© Claire Murray, 2nd November 2021

Today I’m driving
to meet my aunt Ruby for lunch
some distance away.

Turning on the car radio
I find that the programmes on offer are,
in the words of my Daddy,
“aul brock”
(that is, rubbish!)

I decide to pray instead.

And so, as I drive through Belfast,
the prayers begin:
an Our Father, a Hail Mary,
a Glory Be and a Memorare.
Then the same thing again
and again,
all very unrushed
and unhurried.

I’m offering up these prayers
for a safe journey
and for the time I’ll spend
with my aunt Ruby.

As I arrive at Dundonald I’m praying
Our Father … Hail Mary …
Glory Be … and a Memorare …

Soon I’m driving into Newtownards, praying
Our Father … Hail Mary …
Glory Be … and a Memorare …

And as I drive
I feel that I am surrounding myself
with God the Father, Jesus, the Holy Spirit
and Our Lady
(I feel I’m in safe hands!)

Meeting Ruby for lunch
we have a great chat
about faith, family
and everything in-between.
I feel that our wee chat
is blessed time.

Then, back to Belfast
in the car
following the same prayerful rhythm
as before –
Our Father … Hail Mary …
Glory Be … and a Memorare …

Such a peaceful, prayerful journey
in the company of the Holy Trinity
and Our Lady
(I’m so glad that this morning
there was only “aul brock”
on the radio!)

© Claire Murray

Today we go on a lovely walk
to Banagher –
an ancient woodland glen.

No mighty oaks
on these steep slopes
but instead
hillsides covered
with tall, spindly trees
whose leaves are changing
to the warm colours of autumn.
Rowan berries, hazel nuts
and leaves of yellow and orange
drip onto our path
leaving it slippery
underfoot.

A sense that we are being watched
by shy creatures
as we dander through
their ancient woodland home.

A quiet waterfall
of Guinness-coloured water
pours gently
over smooth slabs of rock
into a pool
in which, according to legend,
a mighty serpent lived
centuries ago.

Higher up the mountain
a side path leads us
right to the base
of Altnaheglish dam
where giant sized concrete steps
inside a steep-sided channel
form an overflow
for days when rain falls
in torrents.

Across a tiny, almost empty, stream
lie steep, virgin slopes
of lush green grass
interspersed with conifers –
inaccessible
and so beautiful!

Thank you, Lord,
for this quiet, family day-out.
Time to immerse ourselves
in the beauty of the Sperrins.

An opportunity to sense
the timelessness
of these ancient woodlands …
and of you.

A place to find peace
in troubling times –
thank you, Lord!

© Claire Murray, 23rd October 2021