Dec 17, 2023

Living in Unconditional Love (145)

 

“Love flows from God to humans without effort:

As a bird glides through the air without moving its wings-

Thus, they go wherever they wish united in body and soul,

Yet separate in form.”

–Mechtild of Magdeburg

 

My wife Eileen died from esophageal cancer in February 2020 one year after being diagnosed, 60 years after we met on Long Island. Then my brother Tom became ill (not COVID), and I spent a total of six weeks being with him in Ohio, but he died in October 2020. My sister-in-law Sue Mahoney died from Covid-19 in January 2021. On top of it all stood the pandemic, locking everyone down almost two years. Covid has proved to be a persistent problem, and many of the long-term effects are quite serious, and it has proven much more serious than flu.

12/17/2023                             The tree was brought in today, Saturday, and is lit but undecorated. It is artificial with about 1200 lights. Very nicely shaped, and Barbara and I (mostly Barbara) will decorate it on Christmas eve. I may start it earlier. I plan on making my family’s molasses cookies this week as I do every year. These are my favorite cookies and made from scratch over several days. They require an overnight in the refrigerator after the dough is made with much sifting of the flour. I use the classic-colored sugar frosting and many of the cookies are cut to various shapes with cutters we have had all our married days.

Janet’s birthday was this past week, and Maureen’s birthday is this coming week on the 20^th. Janet’s birth remains vividly in my memories as Eileen almost died afterwards due to ‘baby fever’, which still kills many mothers after giving birth. I had brought her home after a few days, but she was running a low fever when we left and the staff at the hospital was concerned. That evening it rose rapidly to almost 105, and I rushed her back to the hospital. The doctor afterwards said it was touch and go overnight, but the fever had broken the next day and she recovered quickly. She called a few days later and plaintively cried “bring me home”. She missed the family, the three older girls, and her new daughter. It took a few phone calls, but I brought her home to her delight that afternoon. I was her shining knight for some time afterwards. Eileen’s mom was living with us by this time and could help after the birth, as we had two in diapers.

One of the more interesting articles I was reading today was on the findings of the astronomers who are searching for earth-like planets. They are extremely rare. They have scanned some 8000 planets so far, and their conclusion is that an earth-like system is very rare, but they did not say impossible. Only 3% of stars are small yellow ones, a requirement for stability and longevity, and few of them have planets. I have read several authors over the years that said that it is quite probable that no other place in our galaxy is stable over the period required to have life as we know it. Of course, there are billions of galaxies so who knows what lies elsewhere, and we may never know. I am sure I will not know in this lifetime. Perhaps I will find out in the next phase of my life.

The next few journal entries will be shorter (if at all), as I will be busy with family a good portion of the time. Don’t be shocked if nothing appears.

Meditation

Gentle One, the year has passed quickly, and I am amazed that all is well in my close family. I have lost friends and been to a few weddings, but all is quiet at home, even though the world is in so much pain. I am truly grateful for my health and that I am surrounded by love at every turn. I ask that all in my ken maintain good health in this coming year and I offer my love for all.