Tag Archives: Hannahstown

Our Father

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On Mothers’ Day
I felt frustrated
by my youngsters’ fighting
and I felt
that a real present for me
would have been a truce.

Yesterday at Mass in Hannahstown,
as we all prayed the Our Father,
I had a sense of God as a parent,
surrounded by squabbling youngsters
and I felt that God was saying to me,
“If you want to show me
how much you love me,
love one another.”

It struck me
that the many teachings
of the Gospels
can be distilled
into six words,
“Love God
and love one another” .

Only six small words
but one huge challenge
for all of us!

© Claire Murray

Worth the Effort

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Sometimes a thought would pop
into my head,
“Imagine cycling down Hannahstown Hill!”
and my eyes would light up with delight.
But busy roads and lunatic drivers
made the dream seem impossible.

Today, I rose at dawn,
cycled a circuitous route
along quiet, country roads
and managed to arrive in safety
at the top of Hannahstown Hill.

I crouched down over my handle bars
and flew down the steep hill on my bike,
the wind on my face
forcing my eyes to water.
What a hill!
I laughed with joy,
exhilarated,
when I reached the bottom.

Excitement over,
a leisurely journey home began.
At Hannahstown,
I saw rabbits in fields,
a sparrow hawk on a roof top.

At Divis
I watched an auburn fox race
through an expanse of rushes
and psychedelic pink moths
dance on the ground in front of me.

And while I enjoyed an unbroken view of the Mournes,
majestic in the early morning sun,
I felt My God say to me,
“Claire,
follow your dreams
in your own way
and at your own pace.
It’s worth the effort!”

© Claire Murray

Luxury

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This morning I enjoyed the luxury
of being able to attend morning Mass
in my own parish
in Hannahstown.

I enjoyed hearing again
the clatter of votive candles
as old replaced new
in the candle stand
behind me.

I smiled as I heard
the rustle of plastic bags
being carried discreetly
into the chapel
containing milk, butter and jam
for that all-important cup of tea,
with Elizabeth’s scones,
after Mass.

The door whirred gently
as each person entered
and soon the rhythmic murmur of the Rosary
filled the chapel.

Everyone had their own place to sit.
Many had their own special jobs to do.
We all chose to come together
to spend time
in the company of God
and in the company
of each other.

Today I savoured the luxury
of a sense of welcome, peace and community
in my own parish in Hannahstown
in the company of friends.

© Claire Murray

Ballymacward

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Tonight the children
at Ballymacward Primary School
helped me to begin
my preparation for Christmas
as they led the congregation
in their carol service.

Oblivious to all of the grown-ups watching
the children played their instruments
with concentration,
sang with gusto,
recited their poem earnestly,
acted out the Nativity intently.

Totally absorbed in their individual tasks
the children brought a sense of joy
to grown-ups
who grinned and smiled
as they watched the Primary Ones
act out their Nativity play
with solemnity, attention,
and at times a little uncertainty.

I felt I was catching a glimpse
of how My God see us
as we try our hardest to follow Him
and succeed merely
in muddling our way through life.
I had this sense
that these children were absolutely wonderful,
simply for doing their best.

I was reminded
that our best is always good enough
for My God
and that in His eyes
each one of us is every bit as amazing
as the Primary Ones
at Ballymacward.

© Claire Murray

Answer to a Prayer

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In prayer this morning
I said quietly to My God,
“Look, if all these things aren’t possible
that’s okay.”

As I drove down the mountain
at Hannahstown
on my way to work
I saw a sunrise
that was truly spectacular.
The whole of the sky over East Belfast
glowed,
a stunning orange,
like hot coals on a fire.
It was a magnificent, radiant panorama,
a sunrise steeped in “wow-factor”!

I felt that My God
had exploded into my morning
in answer to my quiet prayer,
proclaiming at the top of His voice,
“Claire, it’s all possible!”
It felt as if the sky was celebrating,
broadcasting His presence
to the world,
announcing all of the hope
that My God has to offer
to all of us.

My heart sang within me
as I continued on my journey
to work.

(c) Claire Murray