by June | Jun 6, 2017 | Blogposts
Author and theologian, Matthew Fox, writes: “Silence gives way for Spirit to arrive.” It leads me to ponder a possibility – a hope – a prayer.
What if people unplugged from social media – just one hour less – than they were usually plugged in? Just one hour.
And what if, in that one hour, they experienced silence. Not words.
There are times when words make me sick .. words that people use to explain their lies … words that people use to defend their indefensible position … words that belittle, abuse, mock, harass, demean, bully, disrespect.
Imagine – for just one hour less than usual – we disconnected from Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tic Toc etc. No texting either.
What is the world could simply be present to holy silence, the sounds of Nature’s joy, their creative gifts and allowed Spirit to arrive.
What if we observed “just one hour” less than usual of social media, tv, radio and were in silence, giving way for Spirit to arrive in hearts, communities the world.
May calligrapher Alice Young’s beautiful rendering of Matthew Fox’s words be a prompt for some gentle soul-reflection this day.
Accreditation:
Calligraphy © Alice Young (www.calligraphy.ca)
Text © June Maffin (www.soulistry.com)
Quote © Matthew Fox
by June | Jun 3, 2017 | Blogposts
“Don’t be surprised at the fiery ordeals taking place among you.” Considering what has been happening in the world recently “fiery ordeal” seems to describe our situation well. Fiery ordeals make me think of an eight letter word that begins with the letter “A” and ends with the same letter. It’s something that has no limbs or extremities … has bizarre ways of eating, odd smelling habits, unblinking gaze and a worm-like method of locomotion. Classed as a reptile, some can even grow to thirty feet in length.
A manual, supposedly attributed to the US government’s Peace Corps designed for volunteers who worked in the Amazon jungle says that if you’re attacked by one of these things here’s what you should do: Don’t run (it is faster than you think). Lie flat on the ground. It will come and begin to climb over you. Let it. Do not panic! After it has examined you, it will begin to swallow you, always from the feet end. Let it. Do not panic! Lie perfectly still. When it has reached your knees, s l o w l y and with as little movement as possible reach down, take your knife, and …
This may not be an authentic publication from the Peace Corps, but there are two things that might help when facing the fiery ordeals of life – those things that cause us to fear or even terrify us, even if it’s an anaconda
… the answer to the eight letter word.
Terrible ‘fiery ordeal’ things may happen in our world and in our personal lives. When Anaconda Moments strike and we feel as if we are being devoured by life itself and the darkness of life seems to take over or even overwhelm, we must carry our sharp spiritual knife. But, what if our spiritual knife is dull? there is no joy? there is no “centre” in our lives? our spiritual lives are empty? Then we go back to the first learning. DO. NOT. PANIC.
Many years ago, little Dolores was born. The origin of ‘Dolores” is Spanish meaning ‘sorrows.’ Much of Dolores’ life was spent in extreme childhood poverty and life-threatening illnesses which pummelled her throughout her youth and adulthood. But after meeting Eddie, the love of her life who eventually became her husband, she became known as ‘Joy’ … not ‘Dolores.’ Several years ago, I made a mobile as a keepsake for myself
and ultimately my son, to remember my mother, his grandmother: Joy.
At the bottom of the mobile, I added the poem, simply entitled “JOY
which Mom wrote in the mid 1980’s in celebration of her Confirmation of her faith when she was 70. It speaks to me of the importance of counting our blessings – even in the midst of Anaconda Moments in life.
JOY Through a love of God and a willingness to submit my will in everything – most of the time – comes this deep sense of peace and joy even though at times it would appear I have almost nothing to be joyful about and feel full of despair. As I begin to count my blessings and feel grateful to God for even the smallest tone, this joy begins to permeate my being and fill my heart. It grows so quickly! Even the troubles I am experiencing have little power to depress or overwhelm me. It is like a magic spring! Always bubbling beneath the surface. All it takes to make it appear and flood my being – is a conscious love for God and a deep sense of gratitude for permitting me to catch even the smallest glimpses of this wonderful JOY DIVINE over time. <author: Joy Mack, 1985>
My mother had many Anaconda Moments in her life, but she learned not to panic and to carry a sharp knife. No matter what size anaconda begins to nibble at our heels“fiery ordeals” (Anaconda Moments) can be faced especially when we don’t panic and carry a sharp knife.
An aside: The mobile in the image has three red wooden hearts with pearls around each heart. Pearls were Mom’s favourite. 🙂 The top heart has a smaller heart covered by a piece of silk she used for the dress she made for my high school graduation (she was a lovely seamstress) on top of lace which she often used – and loved. The bottom of that heart: an antique pearl button (part of her collection of antique buttons). The second heart has other buttons from her collection, a mini photo of Mom and Dad, and her pearl earrings. The third heart has a Canadian pin (born in the US she became a very proud Canadian citizen when she and Dad married), a pin from Cursillo (a significant step in her faith journey) and another button from her antique button collection. At the bottom is a copy of her poem: JOY.
© June Maffin
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by June | Jun 1, 2017 | Blogposts
We hugged at the top of the front porch steps. then, with a smile and a “Bye, Mom, I’m off!”, he ventured down the steps and out to the sidewalk … alone
yet not alone … I was three paces behind him … to catch him if he fell … to hug him if he felt afraid … to cry with him if he injured himself … to laugh with him if he giggled … to reroute him if he got lost … to protect him if he ventured off track … to smile with him when he reached his destination … to feel pride that he had walked to school “on his own” because for days we had practiced the route and he knew that I would be “with him” … following close behind … giving him that sense of independence … and sense of security he knew that the One who loved him unconditionally was with him
in ways that may have been … indefinable … undetectable … inexplicable, yet oh so very real
That’s how I see the Creator … always present … allowing me space to be independent … encouraging me to make my own decisions / choices / mistakes and go my own way, aware that the One who unconditionally loves me is with me in ways that are often … indefinable … undetectable … inexplicable yet oh, so very real.
An aside: While the original photo was damaged, the memories it evokes of that oh-so-long-ago morning when my son, Tod, proudly walked to his first day at kindergarten and I walked behind him are irreplaceable. When he stopped, turned around, showed me his first-ever watch with a huge grin on his face and shouted with such delight, anticipation and excitement in his voice “I’m going to school!“, my heart melted. This photo recalls each treasured step of that walk to his first day at school when he was “alone – yet not alone.”
photo & text © june maffin
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An aside: While the original photo was damaged, the memories it evokes (of that oh-so-long-ago morning when my son, Tod, proudly walked to his first day at kindergarten and I walked behind him) are irreplaceable.
When he stopped, turned around, showed me his first-ever watch with a huge grin on his face and shouted with such delight, anticipation and excitement in his voice “I’m going to school!”, my heart melted.
This photo recalls each treasured step of that walk to his first day at school when he was “alone – yet not alone.”
by June | May 28, 2017 | Blogposts
My friend Regina, came to church today and the children openly welcomed her and didn’t make fun of her large hands or strange-looking face or the fact that she wears a wig and has no hair because of the cancer treatments. And then we sang Daniel Nahmod’s “One Power.” “There’s one power … it’s the power of the love in you and me.”
Three brave men tried to thwart an anti-Muslim rant and attack on two women in Portland, Oregon. Ricky John Best and Taliesin Myrddin Namkai Meche died in that attack. Young poet Micah David-Cole Fletcher remains in hospital and wrote this poem shortly after the attack: “I am alive/ I spat in the eye of hate and lived/This is what we must do for one another/We must live for one another/We must fight for one another/We must die in the name of freedom if we have to.”
Ricky and Taliesin died, knowing and believing in “the power of love in you and me.” Micah and the children in church who greeted Regina with such love, know about “the power of love in you and me” that is stronger than hatred. We must hold onto that truth … ‘real’ truth … not alternative truth.
There is power in love.
Photo & Text © June Maffin
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by June | May 25, 2017 | Blogposts
Welcome to this world, little one!
This world you’ve entered is big – very big!
It has trees and animals, plants and bugs, galaxies and planets, rivers and oceans, stars and suns, fish and flowers and people. 🙂
People who speak different languages … and people who can’t speak at all.
People who have different-shaped and different-coloured eyes … and some who have none. People who are tall … while some are not. People with red hair, brown, white, yellow, black and colours in-between … and some with no hair at all. People with red skin, brown skin, black skin, yellow skin, white skin … and shades in-between.
This world you’ve entered is G_d’s creation. It’s exciting … and full of wonder! But it’s not nearly as exciting … as it will be. It’s not nearly as wonder-filled … as it could be. You see, the world is waiting … waiting for you to grow and learn … waiting for you to become a boy, then a teen, then a man. There is a reason you are here.
As time passes, you will discover your purpose, and in yet-undetermined-ways, contribute to the world in your own unique fashion. Yes, there is a reason you are here.
Welcome to this world, little one!
© June Maffin
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<In celebration and thanksgiving for the safe arrival of Caleb Timothy Grant, our eighth great-grandchild.>
Photo of Caleb Timothy Grant © Vanessa Grant
by June | May 23, 2017 | Blogposts
Our spirit grieves.
People ache at the terrorism, the escalation of economic consequences, the racial discrimination and inequity, the religious persecution, the political rhetoric, the misogyny, the emotional / physical and spiritual damage done by hatred. Our spirit grieves.
What to tell the children who experience and have experienced danger and fear? What to tell the elderly who wonder if their lives were in vain? What to tell those of any age who are confused and live in fear?
May we have a glimpse of hope for the future. May we feel inexplicable, unconditional Love in the midst of our pain. May we focus on the Good that unites us and not that which divides, even as our spirit grieves.
Text and Artwork © June Maffin
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by June | May 21, 2017 | Blogposts
a drive down a road not travelled brought discovery:
a chair by the river that called and spoke
“come, sit, rest, gaze, ponder, exhale-worry, question, dream, write, sketch, inhale-peace, feel, believe, *be*.
bless-ed chair
bless-ed trees
bless-ed river
bless-ed peace
bless-ed sabbath moment
Photo & Text © June Maffin
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by June | May 18, 2017 | Blogposts
“How can terrible events happening around the world be seen from a spiritual perspective?” is not an easy question to answer, but perhaps an answer can begin to be found in the words of others.
Hiding in an attic in the midst of anticipated discovery at any moment a young girl, Anne Frank, had hope: “In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.” In spite of everything that was happening during WW11, someone had hope and wrote “I believe in the sun, even when it’s not shining. I believe in the stars, even when I see them not. I believe in God, even when God is silent” on the wall of a concentration camp in Dachau.
Teaching songs to pre-school malnourished, sickly and orphaned children.
with no room to sit in the noisy, hot, humid, dusty and impossibly tiny and crowded room in Sri Lanka, a country torn apart by civil war six crudely printed words “Life is a gift from God” were scratched on the wall as the children sang and moved spontaneously with joy!
In spite of everything. In the midst of … a terrifying yesterday … a bleak today … a potentially annihilated tomorrow In each of these situations, there was hope! Anne Frank’s words … words of hope. The Dachau prisoner’s words … words of hope. The Sri Lankan’s words … words of hope.
Though the future may seem bleak and terrifying to some, the hope of those in bleak and terrifying situations in the past must be allowed to speak hope
to people in the bleak and terrifying present … “in spite of everything.”
Photo & Text © june maffin
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by June | May 16, 2017 | Blogposts
A phrase in Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’ “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark” has been on my mind lately. It’s a phrase used to describe corruption, a situation in which something is wrong. Terribly wrong.
While the country I’m thinking of is not Denmark, the phrase seems apropos of a country whose people live in fear and where the spiritual landscape of that country is being eroded, inch by inch, every single day.
Some from that country express shame and apologize to the world for the leader of their country who has been making decisions that are anything but making that country ‘great again.’ They must not let the ‘rotten state’ infiltrate their body or their mind or their soul … be that personal or corporate … one more moment.
The situation is not just rotting their country. It is rotting democracy. To ignore what is happening only gives power to rottenness and more rottenness. When rottenness becomes decay, when decay becomes putrification, when putrification becomes death, it will be too late.
Light a candle against rottenness. Speak up. Speak out. Blog. Share a blog that addresses the situation. Walk in peaceful protest. Light a candle against rottenness. Do, say something so that the rottenness will not become decay, the decay won’t become putrificiaton and death results.
Text & Photo © June Maffin
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by June | May 13, 2017 | Blogposts
Oh Owl, you are such an intriguing, fascinating and beautiful creature. I love creating handmade cards with your image. Your eyes are so focused and at times, penetrating.
When you use those eyes and look at the world around and see the Two-Legged Creatures called human beings, do you ever wonder and ask the question: “I don’t speak, I don’t judge, I don’t gossip, I don’t hate, I don’t lie, so why do Two-Legged Creatures?”
We Two-Legged Creatures are given a mouth to express feelings and opinions, ask questions and dialogue with others. And we do. But we also use that mouth to spit, literally and figuratively. Spit words of hatred, racism, judgement, sexism, lies, gossip
Your question is a good question, Owl.
I wish I had an answer.
Text & Photo © June Maffin
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