Aug 18, 2024

Living in Unconditional Love (180)

 

“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.

08/18/2024                                                    My favorite vegetable season has begun: SWEETCORN! I have had two ears of sweetcorn every day this week, and I will continue this pace (except for Sundays when I eat out) until the sweetcorn can no longer be found. The ears are exceptionally large this year; I suspect the continual rain helped. I will gain a few pounds (it is not called “sweetcorn” for nothing) but I had lost 10 lbs. earlier so that is fine. I always lose a few once the season is over, but in the meantime, I love it.

A quiet week, still picking up lots of things around the house. Dan sent a movie of the little one (Madison) who is 17 months, singing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” with her daddy. Sang only a few words but carried the tune quite well and a really good sense of timing. It is amazing to see the little ones suddenly pick up a new ability that was not there before.

The garden looks good, only a few blooms left but still pretty. The steps up to the upper lawn have been redone, making the steps more even and reducing the rise to six inches each step. Looks very good as a concrete base was added under each step and it should last for many years. We have had much rain, but much has been localized. I had a very heavy rainfall two weeks ago that washed out much of the drainage system, but the neighbors up the road had nothing.

The back patio was put on hold while company was here, and the weather has not been cooperating since they left but hopefully next week it will be completed. The plan is Tuesday, but weather could change that.

I spent an afternoon with a good friend from my previous church. He taught history for many years at Homer high school and writes a history column for the local newspaper. Lots of interesting events have occurred in that small town. He lost his wife about two years ago, so we had many things to talk about. It was good to see him and to get out and do something different. I need to do that more often, but time just seems to slip by.

Hard to believe that school is starting soon, and Binghamton University had ‘move-in’ weekend for the freshman this week.

Meditation

 

It may only be the season oh Gentle One, but love seems to be around me wherever I go. It is wonderful to be aware of the expansion of love that fills what I do. I am indeed grateful for the beauty of summer and the glory of life that gives joy to all.