I’m going to say something
that is incredibly un-cool,
so not-what-people-want-to-hear
that it borders on the controversial.
I want to be holy.

I can sense people’s reactions,
their reticence
as they take a step back,
looking confused and uncertain,
making a mental note
to give me a wide berth,
and writing me off
as a “Holy-Joe”,
a kill-joy,
someone to avoid.

But that’s not how I see it.
To me, being holy means
being whole,
being free to be
everything that God has always intended
that I can be.

Being holy means
learning to see myself
as someone who is lovable
despite my many flaws
and finding that,
freed from demanding perfection
from myself
I am free to love other imperfect people,
despite their flaws.

Being holy means
finding peace in God
and in myself.

The way that I see it
being holy
is not a burden;
being holy
sets me free.

©  Claire Murray, 26th February 2017