Jun 08, 2025

Living in Unconditional Love (221)

 

“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.

06/08/2025                             It has rained for several days, but the sun is shining on Saturday evening as I write this. The air quality is bad, due to the fires in Canada, but reasonably clear right now. Since my ac is on, the air is filtered and the air inside is not too bad, but it is sneaky how it accumulates the fire particles and makes the air hazy.

The garden is beautiful with the Rhododendrons in full bloom and the iris is finally starting. My iris blooms this year will be less than optimal as they were so crowded last year I had most divided and replanted last summer. They did not get to it until the end of August and September, so even though the plants look healthy most will not bloom. Next year should be a wonderful show. Iris are a desert plant and should be divided every 3-4 years in late July or early August for optimal bloom the following year as they develop the makings of the next year’s blooms early in their growth cycle in late summer.

I had a muddy experience this past week trying to mow the lower pasture. I became deeply buried in mud to the point that I had to get help from some that were strong enough to literally pick up the small tractor and carry it out. I (and the tractor) were covered with mud from trying to rock it out, which only resulted in burying the tractor deeper. A real mess. Luckily mud can be washed off.

I had a strange occurrence on my phone this week. I had received no texts from anyone from early in the week and I did not think too much of it even though some connections that required a text password failed. Then this morning (Saturday) at 4:30 my phone when wild on the stand next to the bed and many texts flooded in from all who had tried to reach me over the past few days, as much as five days. No idea why this occurred, and I did nothing to cause the flood this morning, but it did wake me up. Interesting to come up to speed on all that occurred during that time.

I quoted Ann Frank last week, and her last sentence where she hopes for a better future so that she would be able to carry her wishes out was fulfilled by her vision of hope even though she was gone. Her spirit lives on in her writings and sight. Eileen and I had the privilege of visiting the house, and the feeling of the presence of God permeates the building and deeply affects all who are present, and the atmosphere is quiet and many tears present.

It has been interesting to see the exchanges between two ‘grown’ men whose egos are so outstanding that it was only a matter of time before they clashed. They can be nasty.

Meditation

Gentle one, I am blessed by the beauty of spring and the bright glory of all the blooms that are gifted me. I am grateful for the constant flood of beauty that nature offers and look in wonder at all that is present.