Twenty minutes
spent by my dentist
in deep concentration
as he works to save
a tooth.

Twenty minutes
spent by me
in the dentist’s chair
praying intensely.

Then, disappointing news –
the tooth has to go
at my next appointment.

I drive home,
disappointed
and drained.

As I turn into our street
the moon appears
low in the sky –
a huge, simple, white circle
above the tree tops.

Very gentle,
very calming.

And I sense My God
reassuring me,
“I’m here with you
right now
and I’ll be with you
when you return
to the dentist’s.
All will be well.”

My sense of dread
disappears
and I feel calm.

My almighty, all-powerful God
who takes the time
to reassure me
when I’m afraid of the dentist –
how wonderful is that?

© Claire Murray, 19th January 2022

Lord,
last night
my tummy was sore
and I slunk off to bed
early
hoping that it would go away
as I slept.

This morning
I’m greeted by
a beautiful sunrise
through our kitchen window –
a soft, warm peach glow
that spreads across the sky
behind the lacy silhouette
of winter trees.
So beautiful,
heart-warming
and peaceful.
And my sore tummy
has gone!

Thank you, Lord,
for the calming beauty
of this winter sunrise
and for the gift
of my tummy
being at peace
once more!

© Claire Murray, 15th January 2021

We have a busy day ahead –
Mass, lunch
and then an event
in the city centre.
It feels like a lot
to pack-in.
But, in my head,
I find myself saying,
“Make time for God
and God will make time
for you.”

And so we go to Mass
which is unhurried
with a sense of mystery.
It’s longer than anticipated
and is followed by Benediction
(which, again, we hadn’t expected).
But I find myself saying,
“Make time for God
and God will make time
for you”
and so I sit back in my seat
to savour the mystery
of Mass
and the reverence
of Benediction.

After Mass
we drive home for lunch
along roads that are
surprisingly deserted.
After lunch
we brace ourselves
for bumper-to-bumper traffic
on our drive
to the city centre event,
only to find
that the roads are quiet
and we arrive in perfect time!

Who would have thought?
(I sense the hand of God
in this!)

Make time for God
and God will make time
for you –
how true those words have been
for us today!
(Thank you, Lord!)

© Claire Murray, 4th December 2021

We’re living in challenging times,
worrying times.

This morning I arise
early
and, as I enter the kitchen,
I’m just in time
to see the remnants
of a beautiful sunrise –
pastel blue sky scattered
with shards of pink cloud.

I have a sense
that I have just missed
one of God’s masterpieces
of a sunrise
but that I’m just in time to see
God’s doodles
before they fade
from the sky.

I feel as if God has painted
a smiley face on the sky
for me –
a wee note,
a wee doodle saying,
“Good morning, Claire!
It’s okay. I’m here –
don’t be afraid!”

And as I gaze at the sky
in the early morning
I find peace.

© Claire Murray, 20th November 2021