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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by June | May 10, 2017 | Blogposts
Have you ever wondered how to make a wise decision? how to know which direction to go when faced with more than one possibility? how to discern the will of God?
You’ve reasoned. You’re sought the advice of others. You’ve prayed. You’ve looked at every angle you could possibly think of. You’re still not certain which answer is the right answer for you at this particular time, which ‘way’ is God’s way, which road will be the wise choice.
Like everyone, I’ve found myself in situations seeking wisdom, wanting to hear God’s Voice, hoping to discern wisely. Whether the situations have been simple or complex, each time I’ve learned that *listening* is the key.
The next time you are faced with a decision, give this a try.
Listen to your heart: If it soars with excitement … it’s a ‘yes.’
Listen to your body: If it is relaxed about going in one direction … it’s a ‘yes.’
Listen to your mind: If it is at peace and you are not still trying to figure it out … it’s a ‘yes.’
When all three are ‘yes’, surely the Universe/God is sending you a message
that evokes harmony: harmony of body, mind and spirit aka – wise road – right path – good decision.
Photo & Text © June Maffin
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by June | May 9, 2017 | Blogposts
The things one sees when out for a walk! Two pieces of lumber on a roof with a sign on a piece of paper attached to one of the pieces of lumber that reads “I miss being a tree.”
‘Someone’ thought this up. Then that ‘someone’ printed it out on a piece of paper. And then that ‘someone’ posted it on the lumber.
Dear “someone,”
You deserve … an A+ for creativity … an A+ for environmental awareness … and an A+ for sense of humour.
Paper and Lumber “missed” being a tree.
Is there anything you miss being? … a certain age … a certain size … in a certain relationship … something else?
Photo & Text © June Maffin
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