by June | May 1, 2017 | Blogposts
It would be easy to allow my feelings to determine who I am.
It would be easy to blame life’s difficult circumstances on bad luck, genetic inheritance, family, the government, others, God.
But that would be putting energy “out there”
when I need to focus on rebuilding energy “within” to continue to heal, learn, grow and continue my journey of ‘becoming’ the person I am meant to be.
It’s taken time and work and energy … in the yesterdays of my life … and in the todays of my life to refuse to put energy ‘out there’ on blame
in spite of experiences of rejection, hatred, envy, poverty, pain, betrayal, being on death’s doorstep, and experiencing deep loss.
And it will take time, and work and energy in the tomorrows of my life.
But I will choose to do so because those times have taught and continue to teach that each day is a privilege a new beginning an opportunity to make choices.
Choices about who I will be that day, how I will act / respond that day, who I am becoming.
To quote Carl Jung “I am – what I choose to become.”
I am still in the process of ‘becoming.’ I am still in the process of Choosing.
Choosing To Be … the very best me I can be.
Photo and Text © June Maffin
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by June | Apr 28, 2017 | Blogposts
Antidote to latest news from the U.S.?
Make art!
As Andy Warhol said
“Don’t think about making art
… just get it done.
Let everyone else decide if it’s good or bad
… whether they love it or hate it.
While they are deciding
… make more art!”
Ahhhh, Andy Warhol
… such wise advice.
When we create
we are
… being child-like
… moving further in our process of “becoming”
… growing spiritually.
Making … creating … playing … being
Imagine the spiritual possibilities
… when we make time for each of these.
And when they are woven together
into something tangible
it’s art!
Yes, even these “Four Funky Kids” cards
… made out of cardstock, paper clips and yarn snippets.
Let’s create.
Let’s make art.
Let’s play.
Let’s “Get It Done!”
“Four Funky Kids” cards, Photo & Text
© June Maffin
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Time to make some more “Funky Kids” cards
as these have all found their way into
mailboxes of grandkids, nieces and nephews. 🙂
by June | Apr 27, 2017 | Blogposts
Need a break … from the stress of life?
Need a break … from the news and threat of war?
Need a break from … busyness … anger … fear … confusion … sense of helplessness … something else?
When that happens for me what happens is to intentionally open my eyes and heart and to consciously seek beauty around, above, below, within
helps in some way … like these cascading blue pansies in the yard with their smiling faces and open mouths singing their sweet “Welcome Spring!” song.
May renewal come our way through the gifts of Mother Nature when it’s “time for a break.”
Photo & Text © June Maffin
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by June | Apr 24, 2017 | Blogposts
how do i know … when … if god speaks?
– is god … the voice deep within … the thought that flits through my head … the heartbeat that races … the questions … the answers
– is god … any of these … none of these … all of these
– is god really god – holy other – creator – spirit … or is it simply me
when god speaks … do i know for certain what i must do? am i certain it is god who speaks? not really and yet … yet i cannot remain inactive or unresponsive
higher power – god – spirit – holy other – creator – invites me to live,
to risk, to move forward, to respond to that quiet inner voice, to trust the source whose Name seems hidden … in mists of confusion … in voices of doubt … in shadows of uncertainty, expectant that what lies ahead will nurture and challenge and bless and believe that the true voice of spirit
will not lead me to chaos or confusion
Photo & Text © June Maffin
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by June | Apr 23, 2017 | Blogposts
It’s been quite a weekend! Only way to describe it was to create a neologism: … one word combining two words. SERENDINCIDENCE
serendipity (serend) … “a pleasant surprise” … + co-incidence (<co-in> incidence) … “accidental events that might have been arranged but weren’t”)
It began yesterday when I went to the shed to get the compressor to put air into the utility trailer so garden branches etc. could be taken to the recycling depot. When I opened the shed, I heard a “twittering” sound
… a bird had somehow become trapped inside the shed. But it wasn’t a bird.
It was Mama Raccoon.
I checked the shed again and she was still there … menacing, ready to strike. “Babies – she’s protecting her babies” I thought. Leaving the door open, I hoped she’d make her way out with her babies. No such luck.
I want to get rid of them … humanely … so I googled, posted on FB, made phone calls and learned a lot (!) about raccoons and how to get rid of them:
… leave door open … put bright light inside … play talk-radio (they don’t like human voices) … “disturb” their “den”
Last night … the shed door was left open … talk-radio was played, but a recent shoulder injury meant I couldn’t hang the light or move things out of the shed to disturb the “den.”
And then co-incidences: … I left my scarf in church this morning … a friend came by to drop it off … I told her about the raccoons in the shed … and that I couldn’t hang the light because of the shoulder injury.
Before heading home, she noticed a neighbour unloading his car, told him about the situation
and then serendipity … he hung the light … emptied the shed and cardboard that Mama Raccoon had used as a nest for her kits.
If the co-incidences hadn’t happened, I’d not have had the serendipitous pleasant happening of Mama and the Kits leaving. They’re gone!
And I’d never have had the fun of creating a neologism SERENDINCIDENCE.
Photo & Text © June Maffin
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by June | Apr 19, 2017 | Blogposts
The wise words of my parents “You were given a brain. Use it.” often surfaced throughout my life. At the age of fifteen, I decided to leave the church of my youth which seemed to expect me to leave my brain at the door. When I would ask a question I was told “Do not question” but to “read the books of our faith.” I did.
I had more questions and continued to be told “Don’t question.” “Don’t question?” Isn’t that why I was given a brain? … to ask questions
… to doubt … to consider possibilities … to challenge situations of injustice
… to think for myself … to come to my own opinion
When I became a parent. I intentionally taught my son to … research subjects … be open to learning from others … discuss what he was learning … listen to the opinions of others … come to his own independent opinion
In other words, he was raised to be a thinker … not simply go with the crowd … not simply to agree with my views, but to come to his own opinions about … what is truth … relationships … politics… religion
… abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment and more.
I like to think that … reading and doing research … becoming informed … respectfully listening to the opinions of others … discussing and debating
… and eventually coming to our own opinions is a spiritual responsibility.
We were given and gifted with a brain. Surely the Giver of the Gift
expects us to use the gift at all times and particularly in these difficult days of elusive truth.
We must seek truth. We must pursue truth, even if it alienates us from loved ones, from political party adherence, from religious tenets
We must think.
Think … For …. Ourselves.
Photo & Text © June Maffin
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