Tullyrusk is a tough hill to cycle up
so I have developed a wee technique.
At a certain point on the hill
I stop
and I stand, panting
and looking at the crest of the hill
that rises before me.
I tell myself
that after this wee break
I’ll be grand.
After a couple of minutes
I hop back on my bike
and cycle on.

But today
I deviated from my plan.
I stopped at the usual place
but instead of looking uphill,
I looked down.

Wow!

Miles of fields and trees
swept all the way down
to a shimmering Lough Neagh
which glinted for miles
towards distant shores
in a view that was breath-taking.

I was flabbergasted.
How many times
had I stood, panting, on Tullyrusk Hill
concentrating on the hill ahead of me
and oblivious
to such beauty behind me?

Lord,
help me not to get so engrossed
in my daily work
and chores
and to remember to take a moment
to appreciate the majesty of your creation.
Remind me especially
to search for the beauty
in every person that I encounter
because people are
the jewel in the crown of your creation

© Claire Murray