24 — North Shore News — Friday. July 14, 2000

‘You need
Some dark te
See the light

Rev. Or. June Maffin
Contributing Columnist

IN my role as pastor, people often talk with me
of their sorrows, hurts, crises, disappointments,
frustrations etc. — the “shadows” of their lives.

Some people think that shadow times are to be gotten
through quickly — to be endured — to be survived. Bur, I
would offer ancther possibility.

They are to be “lived.”

My mother was an artist — a biank canvas would become
majestic mountains, resplendent flowers, appealing landscapes
under her creative, artistic touch.

From her ] learned many of life’s lessons. One such lesson
was about shadows. Mom taught me that in creating a painting,
it’s important to remember that the shadows around an object _
(the dark areas) bring out the form and general shape of an
object. A blank canvas dabbed with colours of paint in various
locations can become a striking seascape painting. In other
words, the shadows are just as integral to the overall painting as
are the highlights! ;

If that lesson is applied to our lives, then the dark, shadowy
times of our lives can be just as instructive as the positive, joy-
filled times.

ft takes both sorrow and joy, failure and success, mountain-
top and desert, struggle and endurance, shadow and sunshine
experiences to make life full and meaningful. 7

And, when we invite God into all areas ... both the painful
and the joyous moments of our lives ... something beautiful
results and there is profound spiritual growth.

‘The faith communities on the North Shore arc filled with
prople experiencing both the “sunshine” and “shadow” of their

cS.

Whether you are enjoying sunny times or undergoing shad-
owy days in your life, a faith community is a place where you will
find others who will celebrate your joys, pray for and with you
during, your painful struggles, walk with you as you discover
more about the meaning of life. There you will find others on a

NORTH LONSDALE
UNITED

Rev. Dr. Don Faris
Youth Worker: Karen Millard
I 3380 Lonsdale 985-4911

10:00 a.m, Family Worship
Meeting at 3590 Mt. Highway
Pastor Harder - 986-7400

(ttp:/fwww.nevhope.beca

Building a rainbow

SUMMER campers sketch a rainbow filled with colourful animals. The camp, organized by West Van United -
and West Van Presbyterian churches, aims to promote environmental awareness. Right to left: Megan,
Jessica, Sydiney, Jason, Jeffrey, Monica, Katie, Emetia, Stephanie and Tessa were alf part of the fun.

path of spiritual discovery.

If you’re not already involved, do consider becoming con-
nected, or re-connected, to a faith community on the North
Shore where you will tearm more of the God-Who-Walks-With-
Us in the sunshine and shadow times of our lives.

May God the Holy One, encourage you as you walk through
the shadow parts of your lives and bring blessed Son (sun) shine
to your lives and may you find a faith community which will sup-
port you when you need encouragement and celebrate with you
at those special moments of thanksgiving in your life. :

— The Reverend Dr. June Maffin writes from North Vancouver's
St. Jol the Evangelist Anglican Church.

Alionce Church

This weak’s events: Sunday, July 16/00 .

Sunday Celebration Services - 9:00 & 11:00am

. Speaker - Pastor Glen Ryland
(Full children's program offered in both services)
Lynn Vallgy Futt Gospel Church, 160 E. 28th St.

North Vancouver, BC. Ph. 950-0307
Pretore! Staff: Owen Scott, Glen Ryland, Marcel Kurtz, Malonle Sanderson

Valley Church ts made up of ondinary poopls .
whose lives hare been touchad by the person of Sewve Chrlet * &
. i

~ Delbreok Bz
ch

re PN car abate

“Traveling Mercies”
: "Not forgiving is like drinking rat
poison and waiting for the rat to die”

--by Anne Lamott, writer & Christian

Worship Oam PRS
on Sunday mornings)

St ste
ANGil
885 - 22nd Sereet, West Vancouver
= Rector