There are no winners in war.
Only
lives lost
lives destroyed
anger released for generations
May there be peace.
שָׁלוֹם
سلام
pax
peace
peace
in hearts
in minds
in souls
in bodies
in families
in countries
between countries
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
© June Maffin
https://soulistry.com/blog
www.facebook.com/groups
Photo: used with permission of Pixabay
May dark nights and dark days
be filled with whispered-dreams to stars above .
May Love flood
hurting hearts, minds, bodies and souls.
*******************
© June Maffin
Artist: © Nicole Susanne Dreyer Used with permission.
*****************************************
Nicole is on FB and IG … https://www.instagram.com/nicolesartbox/
Her words which accompanied her artwork:
The flowergirl stands in the light
Her glasses flow in lantern light
She whispers dreams to stars above
And fills the dark with gentle love.
Fear. It’s palpable.
And it’s growing … and growing … and growing.
Fuelled by conversations, social media and political actions
it is a word that resonates and leaves little space for anything other than fear.
What to do?
We could let the fear grow and grow until physical, emotional and spiritual paralysis sets in.
Or, we could transform our understanding of fear, and our approach to it into hope and
F ace
E verything that is
A gainst
R eason
with
H ealing
O penness and
P ossibilitie, by and for
E veryone
Will changing our approach to a single word bring about change?
… change in our actions, our attitudes, our abilities to cope?
How will we know … if we don’t try?
When fear attacks
may we Face Everything that is Against Reason (FEAR) with
Healing, Openness and Possibilities of peaceful action and response by and for Everyone. (HOPE)
Hope really is the only thing stronger than fear.
May we be open to hope.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
© June Maffin
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
https://soulistry.com/blog
@soulistryjune.bsky.social
www.facebook.com/groups/soulistry
www.medium.com/@junemaffin
This weekend, I went to church … ‘Garden Church’. What’s “Garden Church”? Mmmm, well, if a church is a place for worship, and worship is an expression of praise, reverence, joy and thanksgiving, then surely a garden with flowers and bees, colour and birds, fruit and grass, trees, bushes, and even bugs and weeds can be a place of worship.
And if so, surely an encounter with Garden Church can nourish the soul, nurture a sense of deep gratitude, and be a gentle reminder of the gift of creation and the miracle of birth, growth, life.
Garden Church … can be sacred and holy … and offer an opportunity for reflection, worship, praise, healing, thanksgiving, prayer, joy – gentle, spiritual growth.
Over the years, I’ve found Garden Church “calling” to me on sunny days as I take it all in … whether it’s a back yard, a rented veggie bed in a community plot, a deck with flowers/veggies in planters with colourful flowers, bees, burgeoning strawberries, fruit trees, bugs, shrubs, weeds, silence, shining sun, gentle warmth … sweet peace.
And not just sunny days! Garden Church can “call” on overcast and rainy days as one takes a walk around the neighbourhood, listening to the calls of the birds, the chatter and joy of the children, enjoying the beauty of flowers and plants in the front yards of my neighbours. I love it when Garden Church is enriched by nourishing rain, gently watering the plants, grass and flowers in the garden (like these pansies), and bringing beauty to my day.
Garden Church … thank you. You deepen my appreciation of nature. You nourish my understanding of the created order. You deepen my sense of spirituality in ways that touch my soul. And you bring an awareness of the blessings around me in ordinary ways, often when and where I least expect them.
Truly, I am blessed when I experience Garden Church.
In these difficult days when peace and tranquility, calm and joy can seem to be difficult to access, may we make time in some way to experience Garden Church.
***************
https://www.soulistry.com/blog
www.facebook.com/groups/soulistry
Photo & Text © June Maffin
If …
news from the political scene leaves you feeling hopeless
fires and floods threaten your home
the lack of availability of vaccinations against measles, Covid etc. deeply concerns you
climate control has you worried for future generations
you are feeling frightened, unsafe, worried about the future
because of personal health, relationship issues, financial situation, politics
let others carry you in their prayers.
But,
what if you don’t believe in prayer?
Then how about thinking of ‘prayer’ as ‘love’
and let others love you … be there for you … listen to you … march in protest … write letters … speak up
so that “we can be – will be – each other’s strength.”
**************
© June Maffin
https://www.soulistry.com/blog
www.facebook.com/groups/soulistry
A gentle walk along a rural path
brought forth images of summers long ago
when a swing under the huge cherry tree in our back yard
provided countless hours of relaxation and fun for one little boy
– my son.
As he swung,
his feet would move back and forth to maintain a rhythm,
and he would hum,
hum ever so quietly to himself.
He was content with life.
Content with himself.
Happy.
His world was peaceful, safe, gentle.
But for countless children around the world,
their world is anything but peaceful, or safe or gentle.
And they are anything but content or happy.
That’s not fair.
That’s not right.
That’s not the way the Universe is supposed to unfold.
And it not only saddens me,
it makes me angry.
So I dream.
I dream of a time when all children are safe from abuse.
… when soon-to-be parents take parenting classes when they first discover they are expecting a baby.
… when children go to school where they will learn the basics of language, mathematics, science, history, civics, geography, social responsibility, and where they will be exposed to physical education, the arts and play.
… when children arrive to school well-fed, and ready to learn.
I dream of a time when parents are offered support when they need it.
… when teachers are respected, well paid, and supported.
… when children are safe
safe at home, safe at school, safe in their communities, safe from ICE.
I will continue to dream.
And I will act
… by exercising my right to vote
and vote for candidates to provide laws that protect, educate, nourish and nurture children so that they can live with clean air, clear water, nourishing food, safe homes / schools / communities, responsible parents, and freedom.
May we continue to dream
… and act.
*****************************
© June Maffin
www.facebook.com/groups/soulistry
https://www.soulistry.com/blog
@soulistryjune.bsky.social
