by June | Nov 2, 2017 | Blogposts
First power outage of the season today. How quickly the house got cold!
But it was great preparation before the next power outage, because it will happen. And before it does, there’s time to review and take care of the recliner chair back-up battery system that didn’t work, finding the extra flashlights, learning how to make the generator work. While the portable phones didn’t work in the power outage, I was grateful I kept the old plug-in land line.
While I miss my DH, Hans, every single day, it’s in situations such as this that remind me what a calming influence he was in power outages and tsunami warnings. Within minutes he would “take charge” of the situation.
So this afternoon, I invoked his spirit and before I knew it, I had taken charge of the situation. And as I did, once again I could hear his almost-final words “Remember, you’re stronger than you think you are.”
Our loved ones really are with us. Just in a different way.
May we remember them, give thanks for the ways they enriched our lives, and may they all rest in peace.
by June | Oct 27, 2017 | Blogposts
Ahhhh, the wrinkles
… are definitely here.
The aging process hasn’t ignored me.
But that’s okay.
I like to think that wrinkles are an indicator that I smile often.
And why wouldn’t I smile?
I have so much for which to be grateful.
I’ve lived through difficult situations
yet I am still here.
So let the wrinkles appear.
I’ve earned them.
I welcome them.
What about you?
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by June | Oct 26, 2017 | Blogposts
May the Creator of these lovely flowers
standing tall in the gentle breeze at day’s end
bless those
… who live with chronic illness
… await word from the doctor
… anticipate a trip to ER
… face an unknown tomorrow
… deal with unmanageable pain
… can’t or don’t acknowledge their addiction
… struggle with the busyness of their days
and/or the sleeplessness of their nights
… live in fear
And may the Creator bless all who love and wait
… with … and for, each of those people.
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by June | Oct 22, 2017 | Blogposts
A melody reverberates in my head many nights, as do its words
“Day is done, gone the sun, from the lake, from the hills, from the sky; All is well, safely rest; God is nigh.”
There are those who feel the presence of the Divine. There are those who do not. My prayer this night is that those who do not feel that Presence or do not know that Presence or acknowledge that Presence would be … willing to acknowledge or be … willing to be willing to acknowledge the possibility of such a Presence. Possibility.
Who of us is to say that such a Presence is *not* possible?
© Photo & Text June Maffin
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by June | Oct 10, 2017 | Blogposts
Ahhhh, sweet organic corn on the cob from-our-garden Farewell.
You began your life planted as kernel-seeds in trays on the dining room table which had been moved to the window to take advantage of the sun … no special lamps for you. And you began to grow.
Each morning, the trays were checked and your efforts to burst forth from the soil so you could grow tall enough to be transplanted were greeted by “oooh” and “ahhh.”
Ten tiny seeds. That’s all you were. And then came the day when you were strong enough to be transplanted into the raised veggie bed where you
stretched to the sun and grew tassels and cobs.
“Are they ready to eat, yet?” was the question posed to the Universe. “Not yet – they need to be rounder at the bottom.” The waiting continued and continued and continued. And then, you began to form and eventually the harvesting!
First, two cobs for dinner, then two more, and one night dinner was
… corn cobs. Just corn cobs. Delicious. Sweet. Tender corn cobs. Then your stalks were cut down, the roots dug out to make room for the fall veggies
to be transplanted in your place next week, and the cycle of life will begin
again … with some of your fall veggie cousins.
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by June | Oct 9, 2017 | Blogposts
Why is it we feel such pain when we hear of the terrifying events happening around the world?Surely it’s because we are connected. If one part of humanity hurts, all hurt.
Even Scripture notes that in 1 Corinthians 12: 26a (“
If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it”). We are connected – one to the other. Like it. Or not.
Whether our connection is as family by blood, adoption, marriage, as friend, colleague or stranger, we are co-sojourners on this fragile planet called Earth. We are connected.
Even though we may … speak different languages … have different coloured skin … worship in different ways … have differing political beliefs … live out our lives as straight or LGBTQ … are similar or different in other ways, we are connected.
To lose sight of that connection-reality is to forego our common humanity.
How we … treat those with whom we share this planet
How we … support those for whom paralyzing fear engulfs
How we … love those with whom we have opposing views
How we … respect others who voice their concerns and protest
could be the determining factor of the future of our world.
We are connected. Like it. Or not.
by June | Oct 3, 2017 | Blogposts
Something has changed in the back yard and it’s good. During the summer drought, no birds were in the back yard. Water and food were put out for them, but there were no birds.
Yesterday, about five or six appeared. This morning, robins, hummingbirds, sparrows and I-don’t-know-what-they’re-called were fluttering, flying, dipping into bushes, sitting on top of fruit trees bringing colour, movement, swishes, swirls sweet sounds and absolute delight and joy.
Feathered friends, the nest you made in the spring is still in the tree
and you’ll find string, ribbon and other things I’ve placed close by
to encourage you to make new nests. Welcome back!
© June Maffin
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by June | Oct 2, 2017 | Blogposts
“I am done with thoughts and prayers that go nowhere” wrote a friend.
We hear it a lot – may even say or write the words ourselves. These days, many have no belief in them – think they are irrelevant – are nonexistent – have no value.
Respectfully, I believe in prayer and in the power of good thoughts, for I believe that they connect us to those who are suffering, While prayer can have a religious intention/overtone, they don’t have to.
So I’ll continue to send good thoughts to the people who have suffered
to those who are still suffering to those who will be suffering for a long time to come. I believe that energy accompanies sincere thoughts and prayers
and will somehow let those who suffer know that others care.
I will continue to send sincere thoughts and prayers and hope/pray that they will be of help somehow, in some way, to some one, so they know they are not alone… and others are thinking of them.
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by June | Sep 22, 2017 | Blogposts
Have you ever met or been confronted by Self-Doubt Mountain? Have you ever thought there was something … a particular situation … a new technique or learning … a certain time in your life you couldn’t “get-through”?
A few hours before my husband Hans died last summer, he said “Don’t ever forget – you are stronger and more resilient than you think you are.” His words held me up during this past year, reminding me that I have faced Self-Doubt Mountain in the past and survived; teaching me that I will face Self-Doubt Mountain in the future and will survive.
Hans was a wonderful artist and was looking forward to working in acrylic
but he died before he could begin. So in his memory, I decided to see what I could do with the acrylic paints. But Self-Doubt Mountain was in front of me. Again.
I was going to donate Hans’ acrylic paints, but when I remembered Hans’ words, possibilities emerged. I googled ‘acrylic painting’ and before I knew it, I was in the Studio playing with acrylics and having fun!
When I challenged myself a bit further, I entered my first acrylic painting in our local exhibition and was gobsmacked when I learned I had won first prize in the acrylic division. When Self-Doubt Mountain surfaces
… and it will … this experience will also come to my mind and when it does
may Self-Doubt Mountain lose. Again.
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by June | Sep 20, 2017 | Blogposts
“How has your day been?” he asked. A simple question (not the typical “How are you” that usually elicits an inauthentic response). She answered – honestly. “It’s been a really shitty and sad day. My friend died today and I’m really sad.” Tears welled up and spilled down her cheeks.
He was quiet while checking items through the till, then told her he was sorry for her loss and said “I lost my mom last month.” They shared “one-of-those-moments” together and spoke of the importance of “enjoying every moment with those we love and making the most of this thing called life.”
Picking up the bag of groceries she noticed a bouquet of flowers tucked inside. “Oh, these aren’t mine.” “Yes. They are for YOU.” “WHAT?” “They’re for you. I’m sorry about your friend. The flowers are for you.” The woman in line behind her began to quietly cry. A tear rolled down his face. Tears rolled down her face.
At the human-level, they were strangers. At the soul-level, they were friends. As she walked through tree-lined neighbourhoods tears gently flowing down her cheeks, she was mindful of an encounter with the Holy Presence of a fellow sojourner on Planet Earth. His name was Joe.
When she got home and unwrapped the flowers, she realized they were orange Gerbera daisies … her favourite flower and colour. Joe may not have known the difference he made that day, but my friend did. Joe made a difference in her life and brought healing and hope.
When we listen to another … truly listen with our ears, our eyes, our minds, our heart, we *can* make a difference in the life of another. The Joe’s of this world exist. They give us hope that people can be kind. They remind us that we all share a common humanity. They teach us that everyone has the power-within, to be someone’s “Joe.”
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© June Maffin 
Photos and Text © June Maffin