May 05, 2024

Living in Unconditional Love (165)

 

“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.

05/05/2024                             Just watched the most exciting horse race I have ever seen, and it was the Kentucky Derby, the most famous race of them all. Three horses were a nose or less apart! The commentators said it was the closest triple crown race ever. Eileen loved this race and we seldom missed watching it on tv. I am glad I watched it for it showed how tight some races could be. I believe they said it was about 40 years since they had a photo finish, but this was with three horses for the first time ever. The winner rode the rail most of the race in front but two others came up fast at the end and caused the jaw-dropping finish. I am sure Eileen was cheering them on.

The rest of the week has been quiet, which is nice. The daffodils are at their peak, and the Flowering Quince is a magnificent red. My dad planted them around 1980 from sprouts of his own. They were just little sprouts then but now they are about 6 foot in diameter each. I must prune them each year so they can’t scratch the car as they are quite stiff and have wicked thorns, but they are magnificent in the spring. Other early bloomers are in full show mode, and it is fun to walk around and look. I mowed the lawn again, mowing about half of the lower lawn to avoid getting stuck in the wet area this year. It is amazing to see how the daffodils have multiplied, to the point of filling the areas where I planted them many years ago.

While I like tulips, so do all the creatures that run around, like deer and chipmunks, and they do not last well in this climate. Daffodils love it here, and so far, nothing eats them at any time. I just have to avoid mowing them before they harden off, about late June.

My daughter-in-law Julie is coming along well after the first problems shortly after the knee-replacement surgery, and between the pain meds and the CBD cream she finds the pain is manageable.

I find that God is treating me well, and I am enjoying my stay on this planet. I have been blessed many times over the years, and I am deeply grateful for all I have learned and enjoyed over the years.

Meditation

 

Gentle One, I rest easily in Your embrace and rejoice with the coming of spring and the rush of new life. Babies born, new green on everything, and fresh air filling all space. What wonders are offered every year, and what blessings are given for us to live again in amazement.