My Hand in Your Hand, Lord

I’ve got a splinter
in my finger.
Nothing strange about that,
you might think.
But this is a splinter
like no other
because it’s invisible!

Even with my magnifying glass
I can’t see the splinter
or a puncture mark.
But I know it’s there
because I can feel it.

People have kindly and patiently
examined my finger
and they, too, can find no sign
of the splinter.
(I reckon that they secretly suspect
that my splinter is imaginary
as well as invisible!)

Every morning I bless my splinter
with Holy Water.
And during the day
I swish my hand about in water
as much as possible,
hoping to wash it out
And, as I do so,
I offer up a quick prayer –
“My hand in Your hand, Lord!”

Working away in the garden
I wear two pairs of gloves
hoping to sweat out
this invisible splinter
and I offer up my quick prayer –
“My hand in Your hand, Lord!”

And so, I place my finger
and my invisible splinter
into God’s hands
every day.

(My splinter couldn’t be
in safer hands, now could it?)

© Claire Murray, 20th September 2024