“THEY ARE WITH US”

“THEY ARE WITH US”

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.


WM-1stPowerOutage
© Photo & Text: June Maffin

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“WRINKLES”

“WRINKLES”

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?

Wrinkles

Photo and Text © June Maffin
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“A BLESSING FOR THIS DAY”

“A BLESSING FOR THIS DAY”

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.

WM-Irises
Photo and Text © June Maffin
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“POSSIBILITY”

“POSSIBILITY”

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?

WM-CathedralFrance-1
© Photo & Text June Maffin
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“THE CYCLE OF LIFE”

“THE CYCLE OF LIFE”

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. 

WM-corncobs

Photo & Text © June Maffin
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“LIKE IT OR NOT, WE ARE CONNECTED”

“LIKE IT OR NOT, WE ARE CONNECTED”

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.