Elevenses

If I had to describe retirement
in just one word,
it would be this –
elevenses!

Coffee, a chokky bikkie
and a chat
every morning
at 11-ish,
all prepared and enjoyed
at a leisurely pace –
a far cry
from the quick cup of tea
that I would grab
in between classes
when I was working.

I feel as if I have exchanged
white-water-rafting
for a leisurely paddle
in a canoe
down the Lagan
on a calm, sunny afternoon.

Retirement –
time to slip down a gear
and savour life’s little luxuries –
like elevenses
with the one I love.

Thank you, Lord!

© Claire Murray, 5th May 2023

Up the Hill!

A wee girl,
about four years old,
is playing on her scooter
at Tollymore
while her Daddy follows
behind.

The path is steep
and the wee girl pushes hard
to propel herself
up the hill.

This wee girl is exhilarated
by her scooter ride
and proclaims,
“Up the hill!
Up the hill!
Up the hill!”
as she passes slowly by,
wheels a-flashing
as she goes.

A wee girl,
filled with the joys of life
and with absolute confidence
that, with her Daddy by her side,
she will get
where she wants to go.

Isn’t that exactly
how each of us should approach
the hills that we encounter
in life –
with absolute confidence
in our Heavenly Father
Who is always
by our side?

© Claire Murray, 18th February 2023

Summer at Tollymore

In the height of summer
we head to Tollymore,
arriving right at noon
when there’s no escaping
the hot, noonday sun
as we picnic.

Then, off into the cool forest
where trees tower
and the air is cool –
bliss!

The River Shimna is shallow
after a recent dry spell
looking as if, for once,
we could simply
step across it.

Families with their children
play in the river,
laughing and shrieking
as the cold water
splashes over them.

Youngsters explore
the stepping stones,
intense concentration etched
on their wee faces
as they step cautiously
and then yelling with delight
as they complete their mission.

A youth group
all dressed-up in safety gear
plunges
into a deep pool
in the river.

Then, up into the coolness
of the hills
where sunlight filters
through the trees
onto dusty paths.

Blue skies,
peace and quiet
and a very real sense
of summer.

Thank you, Lord,
for precious family time together
in the coolness of the forest
on a hot sunny day –
a perfect antidote
to the intense heat
of summer!

© Claire Murray, 24th June 2023

Something’s Missing

It’s our first time
at the SSPX church of St John
in Dún Laoghaire
to attend a Latin Mass
and before Mass begins
I take a few minutes
to survey my surroundings.

As I do so
the realisation slowly dawns
that our own wee SSPX chapel
in a shop basement
in Belfast
lacks something …
but I just can’t put my finger
on what exactly is missing.

Could it be the organ
with its intricately patterned,
golden pipes?
No, we have a Yamaha keyboard.
It can’t be that.

Could it be the smooth, shiny,
white, marble altar rail?
No, we have wooden prie-dieux
at which we kneel
to receive our Blessed Lord.
It can’t be that.

Could it be the beautiful, arch-shaped
Stations of the Cross
that adorn the walls?
No, we have A4-sized Stations
with a wee, golden cross
at each one.
It can’t be that.

Could it be the oak-beamed ceiling,
high-vaulted and impressive?
No, we have our own steel beams
on our ceiling
which is so low
that Fr Boyle has to duck
in case he bumps his head!
It can’t be that.

Could it be the steps
up to the altar?
We certainly don’t have those!
But, no, I can definitely imagine them
when our priests step forward
with great reverence
to our altar.
I’m pretty sure it’s not that.

What could it be that’s missing?

Then I spot
a large sanctuary lamp
suspended from the ceiling.

Aaahh, now I understand!

When we were wee,
Mammy taught us
that the chapel is God’s house,
where God lives
and that the red sanctuary lamp means
that God is home.

We don’t have a sanctuary lamp
because we don’t have a tabernacle.

With some sadness
I realise
that God doesn’t actually live
in our wee chapel
in Belfast.
He simply visits
every single Sunday
for an hour
during Mass.

And right there and then,
I begin to pray
that, one day,
we may have our own SSPX chapel
in Belfast,
with a tabernacle
for God to live in.

Wouldn’t that be wonderful?

© Claire Murray, 5th August 2023