Rain starts to fall
as I walk to work
on the day before
St Patrick’s day.
Traffic rushes past me on the road
and pedestrians hurry past me
on the footpath –
everyone is in a hurry
to get to work
on time.

I turn
and follow a path
that leads from the Albert Bridge Road
down to the Lagan.

In an instant,
all is quiet
and the sense of rushing around
is replaced
by a sense of calm.
For some reason
the noise of the city traffic
doesn’t penetrate to the riverside.

A road sweeper
passes me slowly on the path
and when rain starts to fall
even the rain drops fall slowly and gently,
landing softly on the Lagan
and lazily dabbing circles on its surface.
Ahead of me
a train crosses a bridge,
moving at a snail’s pace.

And I have a sense
that this Monday morning
My God is inviting me
to go slowly,
urging me
not to rush around,
suggesting
that I refrain from rushing headlong
into decisions I need to make.

As I continue my journey to work
I feel at peace
and reassured
that all will be well.

© Claire Murray 16th March 2015